Putin: Moscow-Baku partnership to preserve stability in South Caucasus

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that Russian-Azerbaijani relations are of those of a strategic partnership. 

"They are based on old traditions of friendship and good neighborly relations, equality, respect for each other's interests, common history, culture and destinies of millions of people intertwined," he said.

According to Putin, "contacts between the heads of states, governments and parliaments of the two countries develop on such a solid foundation of trust".

He drew attention to the fact that "cooperation between regions reached an advanced level." "Today, 17 subjects of the Russian Federation are implementing agreements on trade-economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation with its partners in Azerbaijan," the President noted.

"We work closely together in the South Caucasus, as well as within the CIS and leading international organizations. We see a great potential in the increased cooperation in the Caspian Sea. Primarily within the Caspian Five, comprising Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and the developing trilateral partnership involving Iran," Putin noted.

Humanitarian ties play an important role in strengthening friendly and good-neighborly relations, he believes. "I would note a steadily growing trend for broader contacts in education. Currently, there are about 15,000 Azerbaijani students in Russia, while branches of Russian universities operate successfully in Azerbaijan," Putin recalled.

"Our joint project, the Baku International Humanitarian Forum under the patronage of the Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents, has proven its relevance and importance as a platform for discussing key current issues. In a relatively short time (since 2011), it has become a major event in the regional and international public life. Currently, together with our Azerbaijani colleagues, we are actively preparing the fifth Forum, which is to take place this September," Putin added.

He said that "the further progressive development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations is of special importance for ensuring regional stability and security, maintaining peace and mutual understanding in the South Caucasus and exercising the fundamental interests of our peoples".

According to Putin, Azerbaijan occupies the fifth place in Russia's foreign trade with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, right after Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, despite the difficult market conditions in the world economy, while Russia is the the leading importer of Azerbaijani goods.

"An upsurge in the supply to Russia of Azerbaijani agricultural products, which are in demand on our market, as well as an upturn in exports from Russia to Azerbaijan of fertilizers and agricultural machinery necessary for the expansion of cultivation areas could all play a significant role in increasing mutual trade," the President believes.

Also, Putin expects "full implementation of Uralvagonzavod's plans to supply railway vehicles to Azerbaijan, Krasnoe Sormovo's plans to build and deliver two tankers for the Azerbaijani State Caspian Sea Shipping Company, as well as plans to launch joint pharmaceutical production with the participation of the Russian R-Pharm group of companies".

According to him, "enhanced mutual trade in services in such fields as transport, the financial sector, insurance, telecommunications, culture and recreation could become yet another important track in the development of trade and economic ties". "Today, they already add nearly 20% ($0.5 billion) to the total turnover," he added.

The President noted that despite a drop in trade turnover, the two countries still witness rather stable investment cooperation development. "Today, some 600 Russian companies operate in the Azerbaijani market, with about 200 of them with 100-percent Russian capital. Besides, Russia's direct investment in Azerbaijan amounts to about $1.4 billion," he noted.

"There is no doubt that the current troubles in our bilateral trade and economic relations are but temporary. We are convinced that through concerted efforts and in close partnership we will be able to set our mutual trade on a path of sustainable growth," Putin stressed.

The presidents of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia will meet in Baku on August 8 to discuss the International North–South Transport Corridor, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“On August 8, 2016, we will meet for the first time at a summit of the three Heads of State in Baku, at the invitation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, to discuss the prospects for developing long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation that would span diverse areas: from economic and humanitarian ties to security and the fight against terrorism,” Putin said.
He noted that that the talks would focus on the International North–South Transport Corridor.

“Our talks will focus on a flagship project – the International North–South Transport Corridor with a total length of 7200 kilometers. It aims to provide the best possible opportunities for transporting transit cargo from India, Iran, and the Gulf States to Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation and further to Northern and Western Europe,” he said.

He also added that the three countries have opportunities for expanding cooperation in energy, tourism, healthcare and education spheres.