Maria Sidelnikova, VK editor in chief
The relations between Russia and Azerbaijan always had a close, friendly character. A lot of things connect us - general history, cultural space, experience of the Soviet hostel, similar threats and risks. The Azerbaijani diaspora is one of the largest and most active in Russia. The careful attitude to Russian and to Russian culture in Azerbaijan can serve as an example for many countries entering the CIS.Azerbaijan is a state which constantly confirms its leadership in the region. And today, when Russia seeks to return the key positions on the world scene which were lost from the moment of disintegration of the Soviet Union, support for such a player as Azerbaijan is especially important for us. The noticeable intensification of contacts at the highest level testifies to it. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, Minister of Defence Sergey Shoygu and many others visited Baku in the last few months. Contracts were signed and agreements on various spheres of cooperation were reached: from the military-technical to the cultural. Now it is possible to say with confidence that the geostrategic partnership has a really systemic character.We note also the regional aspect of bilateral communications. At the end of September Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin visited Azerbaijan and met with the President of the Azerbaijan Republic. The central theme of the talks was cooperation between Moscow and Baku. As a result, 48 contracts were signed.Speaking about long-term cooperation between the two states, it is necessary to mention the numerous projects realized by the leadership of Azerbaijan in the North Caucasus. The republic actively invests in the region. Head of Dagestan Ramazan Abdulatipov, speaking at a press conference, said that he didn't meet any project which would be rejected by the leadership of Azerbaijan. A sports center will be constructed with AR support in the republic, there is a project in a stage of realization on activation of sand for the glass industry. The construction of the hothouse complex "Fresh Vegetables" and modernization of chemical production of JSC Dagfos is conducted with the participation of Azerbaijani capital. Azerbaijan gives opportunities to Dagestani children for free education in their own Diplomatic Academy free of charge. At the expense of Azerbaijan, reconstruction of Heydar Aliyev Street in Derbent was carried out. The volume of trade of Dagestan with Azerbaijan grew by almost 85% ( 214.8 million dollars) last year. The governor of the Astrakhan region, Alexander Zhilkin, met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on November 22. Today Azerbaijan is the main Caspian partner for this region. In the first nine months of this year the volume of mutual trade amounted to 167.5 million US dollars and increased by 1.7 times in comparison with the same period in 2013. Questions of the organization of regular shipping were discussed. Between neighbouring cities by the Caspian Sea railway and bus services were adjusted. And direct flights renewed in September. There is the opening of a consulate of Azerbaijan in the territory of the Astrakhan region in the long term.During the summit of the Caspian Five in the Sovietski district of Astrakhan Ilham Aliyev and Aleksandr Zhylkin opened a kindergarten with the name "Friendship". Previously School No. 11 was reconstructed in the city, Freedom Square and the embankment of the Volga are arranged well, and also a monument to Holy Prince Vladimir and the Friendship Bridge have been built.As for Stavropol Territory, governor Vladimir Vladimirov plans to develop cooperation by expanding the market of export of grain and welcoming Azerbaijani tourists to regional resorts. At the moment the volume of grain exported to Azerbaijan amounts to about 1 million tons and has a high potential to increase.Also there was an initiative to create a joint trade enterprise, thanks to which intermediaries will be excluded from trade chains. Also Vladimir Vladimirov invited the Azerbaijani side to consider a project of their own sanatorium in the Caucasus Mineralnye Vody region.Two regions of the North Caucasus Federal District which could cause interest among Azerbaijani investors in the near future are Karachay-Cherkessia and Ingushetia. The potential of the first of these republics was shown at a forum in Gabala by JSC Kurorty Severnogo Kavkaza with a presentation of the new all-season resort in Arkhyz. The leadership of Karachay-Cherkessia hoped that the number of Azerbaijani tourists will grow to 30%, to what it was in the Soviet period. Ingushetia signed a memorandum about intentions of cooperation with the Azerbaijani fund for encouragement of exports and investments.
Baku's support is support particularly important to Russia nowadays Maria Sidelnikova, VK editor in chief The relations between Russia and Azerbaijan always had a close, friendly character. A lot of things connect us - general history, cultural space, experience of the Soviet hostel, similar threats and risks. The Azerbaijani diaspora is one of the largest and most active in Russia. The careful attitude to Russian and to Russian culture in Azerbaijan can serve as an example for many countries entering the CIS.
Azerbaijan is a state which constantly confirms its leadership in the region. And today, when Russia seeks to return the key positions on the world scene which were lost from the moment of disintegration of the Soviet Union, support for such a player as Azerbaijan is especially important for us. The noticeable intensification of contacts at the highest level testifies to it. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, Minister of Defence Sergey Shoygu and many others visited Baku in the last few months. Contracts were signed and agreements on various spheres of cooperation were reached: from the military-technical to the cultural. Now it is possible to say with confidence that the geostrategic partnership has a really systemic character.
We note also the regional aspect of bilateral communications. At the end of September Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin visited Azerbaijan and met with the President of the Azerbaijan Republic. The central theme of the talks was cooperation between Moscow and Baku. As a result, 48 contracts were signed.
Speaking about long-term cooperation between the two states, it is necessary to mention the numerous projects realized by the leadership of Azerbaijan in the North Caucasus. The republic actively invests in the region. Head of Dagestan Ramazan Abdulatipov, speaking at a press conference, said that he didn't meet any project which would be rejected by the leadership of Azerbaijan. A sports center will be constructed with AR support in the republic, there is a project in a stage of realization on activation of sand for the glass industry. The construction of the hothouse complex "Fresh Vegetables" and modernization of chemical production of JSC Dagfos is conducted with the participation of Azerbaijani capital. Azerbaijan gives opportunities to Dagestani children for free education in their own Diplomatic Academy free of charge. At the expense of Azerbaijan, reconstruction of Heydar Aliyev Street in Derbent was carried out. The volume of trade of Dagestan with Azerbaijan grew by almost 85% ( 214.8 million dollars) last year.
The governor of the Astrakhan region, Alexander Zhilkin, met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on November 22. Today Azerbaijan is the main Caspian partner for this region. In the first nine months of this year the volume of mutual trade amounted to 167.5 million US dollars and increased by 1.7 times in comparison with the same period in 2013. Questions of the organization of regular shipping were discussed. Between neighbouring cities by the Caspian Sea railway and bus services were adjusted. And direct flights renewed in September. There is the opening of a consulate of Azerbaijan in the territory of the Astrakhan region in the long term.
During the summit of the Caspian Five in the Sovietski district of Astrakhan Ilham Aliyev and Aleksandr Zhylkin opened a kindergarten with the name "Friendship". Previously School No. 11 was reconstructed in the city, Freedom Square and the embankment of the Volga are arranged well, and also a monument to Holy Prince Vladimir and the Friendship Bridge have been built.
As for Stavropol Territory, governor Vladimir Vladimirov plans to develop cooperation by expanding the market of export of grain and welcoming Azerbaijani tourists to regional resorts. At the moment the volume of grain exported to Azerbaijan amounts to about 1 million tons and has a high potential to increase.
Also there was an initiative to create a joint trade enterprise, thanks to which intermediaries will be excluded from trade chains. Also Vladimir Vladimirov invited the Azerbaijani side to consider a project of their own sanatorium in the Caucasus Mineralnye Vody region.
Two regions of the North Caucasus Federal District which could cause interest among Azerbaijani investors in the near future are Karachay-Cherkessia and Ingushetia. The potential of the first of these republics was shown at a forum in Gabala by JSC Kurorty Severnogo Kavkaza with a presentation of the new all-season resort in Arkhyz. The leadership of Karachay-Cherkessia hoped that the number of Azerbaijani tourists will grow to 30%, to what it was in the Soviet period. Ingushetia signed a memorandum about intentions of cooperation with the Azerbaijani fund for encouragement of exports and investments.
