Azernews.Az

By Jamila Babayeva

The 11th meeting of the interparliamentary commission of the Federation Council of Russian Federal Assembly and Azerbaijani Parliament was held in Moscow on December 11.

Azerbaijan`s delegation at the event was led by Parliamentary Vice-Speaker, co-chair of the Interparliamentary Commission Valeh Alasgarov.

The delegation included chairmen of the Milli Majlis committees Arif Rahimzade and Ali Huseynli, MPs, as well as Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Natig Mammadov and representative of the State Migration Service Vahid Gahramanov.

Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu and director of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress Ilgar Hajiyev were present at the meeting, as well.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federal Assembly, the Commission's new co-chair from Russia Ilyas Umakhanov opened the meeting, and on behalf of the Commission members congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on his landslide victory in the presidential elections.

The meeting featured discussions on a number of issues, including draft documents regarding bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the fields of migration, sea trading navigation and ship transport, rules and terms for the passing of Azerbaijani ships through Russia's internal water lines.

They said cooperation agreements were signed between 40 subjects of Azerbaijan and Russia. Goods turnover between the two countries was USD 3.5 billion last year.

They stressed the importance of interregional forums between Azerbaijan and Russia for expanding cooperation in economic field. The sides also discussed implementation of legislation of migration and expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries' migration organizations.

First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federal Migration Service Ekaterina Yegorova gave information on improvements of migration legislation in the country.

Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu also delivered a speech at the meeting, saying the countries' migration services have to cooperate closely to eliminate difficulties in border checkpoints.

They also held discussions on strengthening of bilateral activities in economic, humanitarian and social fields, development of cooperation within international organizations.

Then Ilyas Umakhanov handed over the 20th anniversary medal of the Federation Council to Valeh Alasgarov.

Bilateral interparliamentary commission of the Federation Council of Russian Federal Assembly and Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) was established with the aim of development of inter-parliamentary relations and deepening of Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation in political, economic and humanitarian spheres, the improvement of the legal framework, the convergence of national laws on matters of mutual interest in April, 2001.