Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

The settlement of the Armenia –Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as further development of the Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation were high on the agenda of talks held between President Ilham Aliyev and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who is on a visit to Baku on April 8.

Greeting Dmitry Medvedev in Baku, President Aliyev said there is an extensive agenda between Azerbaijan and Russia.

The president noted that Medvedev has paid the visit to Azerbaijan during the period of escalation of the situation around the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"Regrettably, the conflict hasn't been resolved throughout many years. We periodically face armed provocations by Armenians," said Ilham Aliyev, adding that another such attempt was made in early April.

"Azerbaijani settlements were shelled, over 400 houses were destroyed," said the president, stressing that there are victims among the civilians as well.

The head of the state said that Azerbaijan had to retaliate to prevent the military provocations and restore ceasefire. "I would like to express gratitude to Russian leadership for the timely efforts and activities for de-escalation of the situation," he added.

"Russia's President Vladimir Putin made a phone call to me and Armenian president. Moreover, Russia's chief of general staff contacted to the two countries' chiefs of general staffs. A truce was established as a result of the mediation efforts," said the president, adding that nevertheless, Armenia does not always respect the ceasefire.

"I should note that Azerbaijan is committed to the peaceful and political settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the international law and relevant decisions of the UN Security Council and other international organizations," Ilham Aliyev said.

President Ilham Aliyev further added that Dmitry Medvedev's visit is also a good opportunity to discuss other issues on the agenda such as the relations in trade, economic, energy, transportation and humanitarian spheres.

The Russian-Azerbaijani relations have a very good dynamics and stand out with friendliness and sincerity, Ilham Aliyev believes.

Russia plays an important role in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, Medvedev said at the meeting.

Medvedev also stressed his participation in the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The PM said he had spent a lot of efforts on the conflict's settlement and wouldn't like them to be in vain. Azerbaijan can be sure that Russia will do its best for the conflict to be resolved, he said.

Medvedev further said Azerbaijan and Russia have a lot of different joint projects, which will also be discussed during the visit.

"As you said, there are relations of strategic partnership between our countries, as well as a lot of projects in the economic, humanitarian sphere, a variety of joint political issues that we discussed," said Medvedev.

Of course, the current situation, the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is not quite that simple, the Russian prime minister added.

"Frankly speaking, this topic is of great concern to Russia," said Medvedev, adding that relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia are extremely important for the country.

Moscow, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, as a responsible state, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council is committed to the approaches within the framework of the UN procedures and other ones, he said.

"We hope that the currently established peace will be long-lasting, and the sides will be able to continue discussion of issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict's peaceful settlement," Medvedev said. "I convey to you the best wishes of Vladimir Putin," he said to Azerbaijani president, adding that the relations between the two countries are very versatile, and there is always something to discuss.

The one-on-one meeting was followed by the expanded meeting.

Addressing the expanded meeting, Medvedev said Azerbaijan and Russia are strategic partners in a number of spheres.

"Fortunately, our range of relations isn't only confined to problems, there is a huge variety of relations where we have a very advanced cooperation and strategic partnership," he stressed.

Medvedev went on to add that Azerbaijan and Russia have the opportunity to make additional efforts for the economies of the two countries to function more in line with one another, for good effect.

Last year, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia declined, the prime minister said, adding that the reduction mainly occurred regarding cost indexes due to the changes in prices for goods the countries supply to each other.

However, this shows that a number of projects can be revived, said Medvedev.

The Russian prime minister suggested President Aliyev to discuss this issue, and humanitarian issues as well.

President Aliyev, in turn, said there is a very good dynamics in Azerbaijani-Russian relations in many spheres.

"Although the trade turnover has slightly dropped for objective reasons, we have a potential to boost the cooperation in trade and economic spheres and great potential in energy and transportation spheres," he added.

Azerbaijan's president also highlighted the traditional cooperation in humanitarian sphere which has very good prospects and good results.

"In general, this is the basis of our relations," said President Aliyev. "Therefore, I hope that we will have detailed discussions with our colleagues on the concrete issues related to trade and economic and of course, political relations."

The expanded meeting was followed by the joint press conference, addressing which President Aliyev said Azerbaijan considers today's visit of Dmitry Medvedev to Baku as another proof of friendly and partner attitude towards the country.

"We attach great importance to your visit," President Aliyev told Medvedev. "Today, during the talks in the expanded and one-on-one formats, we discussed the important issues of bilateral cooperation and regional problems."

President Aliyev added that, especially taking into account the recent escalation, they also had detailed discussions on the issues related to the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

He said Azerbaijan appreciates that Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is on an official visit to Baku today.

"I invited Medvedev to visit Azerbaijan and I know that he was planning to pay this visit. But the fact that this visit was paid today is considered by us as another proof of friendly and partner attitude towards Azerbaijan," added Ilham Aliyev.

Medvedev, in turn, said Russia appreciates the high level of relations with Azerbaijan.

“We really appreciate such level of relations with Azerbaijan, traditions of friendship and mutual understanding, which have formed throughout the centuries and which now bear good fruit,” said Medvedev.

Later, a dinner reception has been hosted on behalf of President Aliyev in honor of Dmitry Medvedev.

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