Russia, Azerbaijan sign security deal

The Russian security chief Vladimir Rushaylo and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ramiz Mehdiyev signed an interaction plan between the Azerbaijani and Russian Security Councils for 2003-2004 in Baku on February 20.
The signing concluded the three-day talks between the secretary of the Russian Security Council, Vladimir Rushaylo and high-ranking Azerbaijani government officials over security issues, including concerns arising from the Iraqi crisis and counter-terrorism efforts.
Secretary of the Azerbaijani Security Council, Ramiz Mehdiyev and Russian security chief Vladimir Rushaylo expressed their satisfaction over the level of security cooperation between the two nations in a joint press conference in Baku.
High-level talks
During the two hour private meeting with President Aliyev on Thursday, Rushaylo discussed the recent situation regarding Iraq.
Aliyev said that Iraq is geographically much closer to Azerbaijan than Russia; therefore Azerbaijan can not remain indifferent to developments in Iraq. He added that Azerbaijani and Russian stances on important international questions were very close.
The Russian security chief started his Baku talks on Wednesday, meeting with Ramiz Mehdiyev, who welcomed the visitor at Bina airport.
At the meeting, Rushaylo suggested holding a meeting of the Caucasus Four (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Russia) Security Council secretaries.
Fighting international terrorism, organized crime, illegal drug trafficking, and  exchanging intelligence were high on the agenda during the Russian security chief’s talks with the Azerbaijani ministers for internal affairs, national security, and defense.
In a meeting with the Azerbaijani Minister for Internal Affairs Ramil Usubov, the Rushaylo appreciated Azerbaijani law-enforcement cooperation with Russia. He handed over a list of persons suspected of carrying out terror acts in Russia and believed to be hiding in Azerbaijan.
It was noted that Russia had extradited 2500 criminals to Azerbaijan, with Azerbaijan handing over 170 in the last five years.
Furthermore, Rushaylo met with the Azerbaijani Minister for National Security Namiq Abbasov on Thursday.
Namiq Abbasov told the Russian official that national law-enforcement bodies had recently arrested 38 Azerbaijani citizens, who had received training in the Pankisi Gorge, Georgia and fought against Russian troops. The Azeri minister added that Azerbaijani special services have been cooperating with their Russian counterparts long before the September 11 events.
Putin-Aliyev Letter
During his visit Rushaylo delivered a letter from President Putin to Heydar Aliyev, in which he states that Russia is ready to take an active part on a bilateral and multilateral basis to combining efforts to ensure durable stability and security in the region, which meets the genuine interests of both countries.
The Russian president voices hope that existing relations between the two security councils attain this target. The letter adds that Russia intends to further broaden cooperation with Azerbaijan.
Russian honor
President Aliyev was presented with Russia's medal for Contribution to international security by Mr. Rushaylo, who stressed the president's personal intervention in interaction between Russian and Azerbaijani law-enforcement bodies in combating international terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.