Russia steps up South Caucasus role

President Aliyev and the visiting Secretary of Russia's Security Council Sergey Ivanov focused on issues concerning the recent visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Azerbaijan and Russia's role in the South Caucasus Monday.

The parties underscored the importance of Putin's visit for both nations.

"Russia has truly started heeding greater attention to the Caucasus problems, trying to handle them in an unbiased fashion and to boost Russo-Azeri relations", Mr. Ivanov said.

He also highlighted the significance of implementing what has been agreed upon during the visit and outlining further steps. President Aliyev said that immediately after the visit, he had discussed its outcomes with the Security Council and the Cabinet of Ministers.

"We need to arrive at a final decision concerning the Gabala RLS and other, especially economic, issues", the President said and added that he had set up a special commission led by Prime Minister Arthur Rasizadeh.

The unexpected visit by Russian Security Council Secretary has caused a great deal of interest of political analysts, who have ventured to prophesy its true reasons. The fact that Mr. Ivanov came to Baku from Yerevan has led many to believe that Moscow is putting forward a new peace plan for the Garabagh conflict ahead of President Aliyev's face-to-face meeting with Armenian counterpart Kocharian in France to be brokered by French President Chiraq.