Moscow, 23 February 2022 (TDI): Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents met in Moscow to discuss bilateral issues. The meeting took place on February 22.
During the talk, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, extended greetings and thanked the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for accepting the invitation. In return, the President of Azerbaijan said that he felt honored to pay an official visit to Moscow.
Subsequently, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told that he met the Russian President three months ago i.e., in November. This depicts the dynamism in the relations of both states. Meanwhile, this is the 48th visit of the President of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation.
Declaration of Allied Interaction
Further, President Vladimir Putin stated that this official visit has happened on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.
Along these lines, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents will sign a declaration on allied interaction as well. The signing of the declaration is made possible due to making headway in the Nagorno-Karabakh problem which is not yet settled completely.
In response, the President of Azerbaijan suggested that this document will reinforce positive impacts on both countries regarding cooperation and regional security. However, the document consists of forty clauses that are essential for strengthening bilateral ties.
Russia: Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Moreover, President Vladimir Putin highlighted that Russia and the neighboring countries of Azerbaijan, including Armenia, want to resolve the various issues concerning their national interest. This includes the issue of transport as well.
For these reasons, the President of Azerbaijan also acknowledged the role of Russia in ending the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Subsequently, Russia managed to shift the conflict from the hot plane towards the diplomatic and political phase. As a result, in November 2020, the tripartite statement ended the conflict.
Trade and Economic Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan
In the context of trade and economic relations, President Vladimir Putin stated that trade between both countries has increased by more than 16 percent. Despite the pandemic situation, the economic ties of both states are diversified which will lay the framework for further prospects.
In this regard, the President of Azerbaijan emphasized that bilateral trade has futuristic prospects which are shown by the January figures as well. He also discussed the implementation status of practical projects for this bilateral trade.
Accordingly, the President of Azerbaijan highlighted that Russian Federation played a positive role in creating opportunities and opening a transport system between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Development of Russian language and Humanitarian aspects
Along these lines, the Russian President regarded the support of Azerbaijan for the development of the Russian language along with the resolution of humanitarian issues.
Currently, there are three hundred schools in Azerbaijan that teach the Russian language. In particular, the President of Azerbaijan also commented on the humanitarian aspects of this bilateral relationship.
He said that there are around 340 schools where around 140,000 students are enrolled. Along with that, fifteen thousand citizens of Azerbaijan are studying the Russian language at various universities of Azerbaijan.
It is pertinent to note that the President of Azerbaijan said that the Russian language can unite all the countries of the former Soviet Union.
The sovereignty of LPR and DPR
During the meeting, the Russian President mentioned the recognition of the sovereignty of two People’s Republics in Donbas. In this regard, he noted that this step is not taken to reinstate the Russian imperial borders.
Furthermore, President Putin stated that Russia recognized all geopolitical realities. This step is vital to strengthen ties with newly independent states in the post-Soviet space.
As for bilateral steps, he remarked that Russia always practiced great care in tense conditions to reach mutually acceptable resolutions such as the course of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.
Likewise, the President of Azerbaijan noted that the current situation is different. Nowadays, the international community accepts the new geopolitical realities.
Russia’s positive role in Kazakhstan
In the same vein, the Russian President told that he had a telephone exchange with the President of Kazakhstan before the arrival of President Ilham Aliyev.
According to President Putin, this exchange depicts that Russian Federation acknowledges the sovereign status of its neighboring countries. Indeed, Russia supported Kazakhstan in the context of international aggression in the context of an international terrorist.
President Vladimir Putin said that Russia withdrew all armed forces as a part of the CSTO contingent and upon the request of Kazakhstan.
In addition to that, Russia continued to cooperate with Kazakhstan after the removal of all disturbing factors. Eventually, this strengthened the sovereign status of Kazakhstan.
Conditions of Ukraine are Different
Similarly, President Putin emphasized that the conditions of Ukraine are different. Unfortunately, he reiterated that the territory of Ukraine is used as a tool to threaten the Russian Federation.
