Russian MFA says Baku, Moscow have open dialogue
By Rashid Shirinov
Russia maintains close relations with Azerbaijan and develops them in various areas, including political, economic and humanitarian spheres, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on May 25.
She noted that the Azerbaijani people are close to Russia and the ties between the two countries will develop in the future.
“Our country does not link the relationship, which we develop with Baku and the people of Azerbaijan, with any other international factors. We certainly discuss with the Azerbaijani side the international agenda, regional agenda and problematic issues, no one is hiding them,” Zakharova said, stressing that there is an open dialogue between the two countries.
Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries were established in 1992.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia in 2016 amounted to $2.05 billion, which is 10.5 percent higher than the year before, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
Russia is one of the main trade partners of Azerbaijan, ranking second in commodity turnover, the first - in the import of products and the eighth - in exports. About 31 percent of Azerbaijan's non-oil exports fall on Russia, which is the first among Azerbaijan's trade partners in this indicator.
Moreover, Russia is making serious efforts for settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The country, along with the U.S. and France, is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group established to broker a peace to the long-standing conflict.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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