Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has met in Baku with the head of Dagestan, Ramazan Abdulatipov.
Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijani-Russian relations are a guarantor of regional stability. Speaking about the expansion of cooperation, he stressed the importance of developing ties with the regions of Russia, especially with Dagestan, in the economic, investment, humanitarian and other spheres.
According to the head of state, Abdulatipov's visit to Baku created a good opportunity for discussing traditionally fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Dagestan.
Ilham Aliyev stressed that these relations are of great importance for the region and for the whole of the Azerbaijani-Russian relations, adding that the development of interstate bilateral ties will also strengthen the traditional contacts between Azerbaijan and Dagestan.
The head of state also congratulated Ramazan Abdulatipov and all Dagestanis on the 2000th anniversary of the city of Derbent.
Abdulatipov, in his turn, stressed the importance of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Dagestan, Interfax-Azerbaijan reports. According to Abdulatipov, Vladimir Putin is interested in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Dagestan and recommends expanding relations with Baku. In addition, the head of Dagestan has expressed interest in cooperation with various regions of Azerbaijan.
Professor of the Western University, political scientist Fikret Sadykhov, told Vestnik Kavkaza that "quite close and intimate relations have been established between Azerbaijan and Dagestan since Soviet times."
He added that "there are many priority areas: the economy, mutual investment, cultural and educational ties." "Many Azerbaijanis live in Dagestan. I believe that the head of the republic understands this, which is very important in this situation. Therefore, the theme of the 2000th anniversary of Derbent, where a significant number of Azerbaijanis live, was also raised at the meeting between Ilham Aliyev and Ramazan Abdulatipov," he added.
In conclusion, the professor said, "that it was an unofficial visit, during which the plans for the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Dagestan were discussed."
