Russia woos Azerbaijan amid growing Iraqi crisis

February is to see numerous visits from top Russian officials to Azerbaijan.
The head of the Russian Security Council, Rushaylo, will travel to Azerbaijan on Wednesday following the visit by chairman of the Russian State Duma committee on international issues Rogozin.
The 20 strong delegation is to hold meetings over three days with Azerbaijani national security, defense and interior ministries, as well as President Aliyev.
The Russian embassy in Baku has informed AssA-Irada that Russian Minister for Defense Sergey Ivanov is also expected in Azerbaijan on February 25-26. His trip will focus on prospects for bilateral military and technical cooperation. Furthermore, the Russian minister will meet with Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, Prime Minister Artur Rasizada and Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov.
Earlier in the week Russian president Putin telephoned Heydar Aliyev to discuss what was officially described as ‘bilateral relations’’.
Some pundits view increased diplomatic activity as an attempt to strengthen Russia's position in the region, amid expectations that Russia may use the Qabala Radar Station on the eve of war against Iraq, and US Deputy Defense Minister on Eurasian issues Mira Richardel's statement on considering Azerbaijan as a reliable ally.
In the meantime other experts considers it as Russia's efforts to step up its interests as to Azerbaijan and a start of a new stage in bilateral relations.
Warm reception
The chairman of the committee on international issues of the Russian State Duma (parliament), Dmitri Rogozin started a two-day visit to Azerbaijan on Monday to discuss broadening inter-parliamentary relations, the social situation of Azerbaijanis living in Russia and protection of their rights.
He held meetings with President Aliyev, Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov, head of the Azerbaijan deputation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ilham Aliyev.
President Aliyev told the Russian MP that such meetings contributed to Azerbaijani-Russian relations, adding that he saw joint active cooperation improving with Ilham Aliyev's election as PACE vice-president and bureau member.
Dmitri Rogozin, in turn, told the president that he was amazed at progress made in Azerbaijan during the last ten years, stressing Heydar Aliyev's special role in the establishment of law and order and normal life in the country.
President Heydar Aliyev said the Armenian aggression was not being addressed, though conflicts in Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia were resolved by force. "If the world supports justice, it must be identified who is aggressor, who is victim... First of all, I voice my protest to the OSCE Minsk Group,  its co-chairmen the US, Russia and France," the president said to sum up his speech.
Russian MP told the president that his country would step up its activity in the Minsk Group as situation with Russia itself was normalizing and Putin's authority going to strengthen. He underscored that the settlement of the Qarabag conflict would be like a cardiac shock to a normal life in the Caucasus as a whole. In addition, Rogozin invited Ilham Aliyev to visit Russia.
Inter-parliamentary relations
Inter-parliamentary relations were in focus in a meeting with Azerbaijani Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov on Tuesday.  Complaining of OSCE Minsk Group's activity in settlement of the Upper Qarabag conflict, the Azerbaijani speaker considered discussing the problem within the Caucasus Four (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia) as reasonable. Rogozin expressed satisfaction with cooperation between the Azerbaijani and Russian missions to the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
During the meeting with Ilham Aliyev, the Russian MP touched upon problems concerning the Iraqi crises, as well as Iran, saying these issues needed particular attention.
Diaspora and illegal immigration issues were high on the agenda at a meeting with the Deputy Foreign Minister, Xalaf Xalafov.