Russia expresses interest in expanding ties with Azerbaijan
By Aynur Jafarova
Russia is keen on establishing more smooth and prospective relations with Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Foreign and Defense Policy Council, Editor-in-Chief of the ‘Russia in Global Affairs’ journal Fyodor Lukyanov said on November 24.
Speaking at a press conference at the Trend Agency in Baku, he noted following the recent developments in Ukraine, Russia has been reassessing its relations with other post-Soviet countries to correct and address the failures in respect to any country.
“In respect to Azerbaijan, there is a desire to restore this balance and improve it,” Lukyanov said.
The expert said Moscow doesn’t have any illusions that Azerbaijan can be lured into the Eurasian Economic Union.
Speaking about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he said the current frozen status quo is not stable and Russia has serious concerns that amid the growing instability in the world, and in particular in the entire post-Soviet area, this conflict may flare up again.
Russia is the main trade partner of Azerbaijan in the CIS. It
also ranks first among the countries importing goods from
Azerbaijan.
Currently, there are 570 companies with Russian capital in
Azerbaijan. Russia has recently invested $628.4 million in
Azerbaijan's fixed capital. But Azerbaijan's investment in the
Russian economy for 10 years amounted to nearly $1 billion.