Russia arranges reception in Baku over its national holiday
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijani capital Baku hosted a reception over Russia Day organized by the Russian Embassy on June 11.
Russia Day, devoted to the declaration of state sovereignty, is a national holiday of Russia celebrated every year on June 12, since 1992.
Speaking at the event, Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfaz Garayev extended congratulations on the Russian national holiday from the Azerbaijani government.
Garayev said that Azerbaijan hopes for Russian assistance in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Russia, as a co-chair of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group, may facilitate a solution of the conflict, he said.
Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin, in turn, said that Azerbaijan and Russia are strategic partners and build their relations based on mutual respect and friendship.
Russia's interest in all cases is to ensure the supremacy of the international rule of law and respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, Dorokhin said in an interview with Trend news agency.
"Our partners in the West are sometimes inclined to insist on approaches to resolve problems based on their own historical experience and achievements. Needless to say, this experience is positive and the achievements are impressive. But every country has its own path. There will be no just world order without its respect," he said.
Speaking about relations with the other former Soviet republics, Dorokhin said currently work with former USSR partners is considered an absolute priority on all levels.
"When the Soviet Union broke up and the former Soviet republics became independent, I was working at the Foreign Ministry...It was a real shock for us. We were not ready to work with the former countries on equal terms morally or professionally.
"The principles of post-Soviet integration have been worked out. The directions of each country have been determined," he said.
Dorokhin said that the situation with Azerbaijan was not easy either.
"But the most important thing is that Russian-Azerbaijani relations have been based on principles that have withstood the test of time thanks to Heydar Aliyev and Vladimir Putin," the ambassador said, adding that this is unconditional respect for the sovereignty and independence of each other.
Russia, according to Dorokhin, approaches Azerbaijan in a friendly manner and with sympathy.
"However, the foundation of our relations is pragmatic. It always leaves room for our countries to act strictly in accordance with our national interests -- whether it is about Gabala, the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline or something else, while maintaining mutual understanding and respect," he said.
Touching on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Dorokhin said there is a need for redoubling the efforts of the parties to the conflict as well as of the mediators to seek a solution based on well-known principles.
"Russia, as one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, is ready for this," he said.
Dorokhin also said there is great interest around the world in the Russian language and Russian culture.
"In Azerbaijan, all the more so we should not struggle for the preservation of the Russian language," he said.
"I see a positive trend over the four years of serving as ambassador to Azerbaijan. The humanitarian sphere is an important element of Russian-Azerbaijani relations. I could even say it forms their basis. And this is in the fundamental interests of our two countries and peoples," he said.