First Azeri-Russian forum to boost ties
The first Azerbaijani-Russian forum on humanitarian cooperation
that started in Baku on Friday will promote further strengthening
of relations between the two governments and nations, the
Azerbaijani Presidential Administration chief, Academician Ramiz
Mehdiyev said in his keynote address.
The two-day forum is attended by well-known Russian public figures and men of culture, as well as journalists from the neighboring country’s major media outlets. Mehdiyev expressed hope that the event, which aims to deepen Azerbaijan-Russia cooperation in the area of relief assistance, will result in launching new projects.
The head of the presidential administration said Azerbaijani-Russian humanitarian collaboration was developing successfully.
Further, Mehdiyev said the Russian language is being paid close attention in Azerbaijan, noting that over 16,000 youths are recieving education in Russian. He emphasized that the works of prominent Russian poets have been translated into the national language and published in 1.5 million copies, which indicates great public interest in Russian culture in the former Soviet republic.
Mehdiyev noted that the heads of numerous influential Russian media had joined the Baku event, saying the media has played a significant role in reaching a high level of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.
Touching on the January 20 developments, a tragic day in 1990 when hundreds of people were killed or injured on the streets of Baku, Mehdiyev labeled then USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev as the main culprit of the tragedy. He noted that on that day 147 innocent Azerbaijanis were slain and over 700 others were injured.
"But why didn’t Gorbachev pull in troops into Armenia when atrocities were being perpetrated there against Azerbaijanis and they were being ousted from their native land? Unfortunately, the central media was silent at the time, and, in some cases, it was supporting the violation of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity."
Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Russian President’s envoy on international and cultural cooperation, said in his remarks that the humanitarian forum seeks to build a bridge between peoples and civil societies. According to him, Azerbaijani and Russian leaders have always maintained good relations, and, from this viewpoint, it is important that the people of the two countries enjoy close ties as well.*
The two-day forum is attended by well-known Russian public figures and men of culture, as well as journalists from the neighboring country’s major media outlets. Mehdiyev expressed hope that the event, which aims to deepen Azerbaijan-Russia cooperation in the area of relief assistance, will result in launching new projects.
The head of the presidential administration said Azerbaijani-Russian humanitarian collaboration was developing successfully.
Further, Mehdiyev said the Russian language is being paid close attention in Azerbaijan, noting that over 16,000 youths are recieving education in Russian. He emphasized that the works of prominent Russian poets have been translated into the national language and published in 1.5 million copies, which indicates great public interest in Russian culture in the former Soviet republic.
Mehdiyev noted that the heads of numerous influential Russian media had joined the Baku event, saying the media has played a significant role in reaching a high level of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.
Touching on the January 20 developments, a tragic day in 1990 when hundreds of people were killed or injured on the streets of Baku, Mehdiyev labeled then USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev as the main culprit of the tragedy. He noted that on that day 147 innocent Azerbaijanis were slain and over 700 others were injured.
"But why didn’t Gorbachev pull in troops into Armenia when atrocities were being perpetrated there against Azerbaijanis and they were being ousted from their native land? Unfortunately, the central media was silent at the time, and, in some cases, it was supporting the violation of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity."
Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Russian President’s envoy on international and cultural cooperation, said in his remarks that the humanitarian forum seeks to build a bridge between peoples and civil societies. According to him, Azerbaijani and Russian leaders have always maintained good relations, and, from this viewpoint, it is important that the people of the two countries enjoy close ties as well.*
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