Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijani parliament on Thursday ratified a declaration on friendship and strategic partnership with Russia that aims to boost multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, following a debate that sparked differences among lawmakers.
The document, which had been signed by President Ilham Aliyev and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Baku on July 3, was approved by 95 votes, with five MPs opposing the measure.
The declaration says the two countries will continue comprehensively developing mutually beneficial and constructive relations. Baku and Moscow will deepen political dialog on different levels in all areas of bilateral relations and on international and regional issues of mutual concern.
The two countries also cited great importance of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijani regions and subjects of the Russian Federation.
Further, the Azerbaijani and Russian governments said they valued efforts by co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG), a group brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, aiming to find a negotiated solution to the long-running dispute.
Russia co-chairs the MG, along with the United States and France.
Azerbaijan and Russia also stated their intention to boost military cooperation.
Also, they pledged to work toward increasing the efficiency of CIS, a union of former Soviet republics that some claim has outlived its usefulness.
Speaking during discussions prior to the adoption of the document, MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev opposed the measure. Instead, he suggested that Azerbaijan secede from CIS.
"Russia has occupied Azerbaijani territory, and, moreover, it created a buffer zone around Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh [an Azeri region under Armenian occupation]. Separatists presently control these territories. Azerbaijan should pull out of CIS."
MP Nasib Nasibli also came out against passing the Azeri-Russian declaration. He added that Azerbaijan, at this point, should exercise caution in its moves.
But MP Akram Aylisli disagreed with his counterparts, saying Azerbaijan and Russia maintain close cooperation, and stressed the importance of passing the document.
Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov said Azerbaijan`s national interests are protected while putting any issue on discussion in the legislature, emphasizing that cessation from CIS would not benefit the country. "If Azerbaijan seceded from CIS, what would it gain?"