 | Moscow reaffirms strategic interests in Azerbaijan |
"Russia has its own interests in the Caucasus, including those stemming from its national security concerns", the secretary of Russia's Security Council Mr. Rushaylo told President Aliyev in Baku Tuesday.
According to him, Moscow "is fully aware of the efforts Azerbaijan and its leader are taking to attain stability in the Caucasus". Mr. Rushaylo pointed out the importance of cooperation in combating international terrorism and voiced his appreciation to Azerbaijan for helping detain and extradite to Russia a number of highly dangerous criminals that had a hand in several terrorist acts on the territory of Russia. He also indicated that last year Russia had handed 800 outlaws over to Azerbaijan.
Mr. Rushaylo spoke highly of the military and technical cooperation and highlighted the need for bilateral consultations in the area of arms modernization, personnel training, etc.
He added that these issues would be discussed by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov due to arrive in Baku later this week.
Speaking of the objectives of his own visit, Mr. Rushaylo said that among other issues he would discuss the course of preparations for the meeting of the Caucasus G4 due in Minsk within the CIS Summit.
President Aliyev said, in response, that he does not see the Caucasus G4 as anything more than a formality. Since two member-states of the Group are at war, economic relations with Armenia are ruled out until peace is achieves in the region. Reiterating the importance of a peace settlement to the Garabagh conflict, H. Aliyev said Russia must step up its role toward this goal.
Mr. Rushaylo and Deputy Foreign Minister Trubnikov were also received by other high-ranking government officials. The President's chief-of-staff Ramiz Mehdiyev met with the former, while Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev with the latter, as both meetings were held behind closed doors.
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Issue No.20(202), 2001
Heated discussion evolves over Garabagh peace planMoscow reaffirms strategic interests in AzerbaijanIslamic extremist exposures coming upNews digestNationParliament newsOpposition newsEcologyBusinessOil & gas news
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