An agreement for scientific and technical cooperation between the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) has been concluded in Baku.
The document was signed by President of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Akif Alizadeh and President of the Academy of Sciences of the Russian Federation Alexander Sergeyev in Baku.
During the meeting, academician Akif Alizade told about many years of fruitful cooperation between the academies of both countries, specifying that the RAS President's visit to Azerbaijan will contribute to the further development and strengthening of cooperation.
The President of ANAS explained that the need for an agreement arose in connection with certain changes in various fields of science.
In turn, academician Alexander Sergeev drew attention to the importance of conducting basic research on the Caspian Sea.
Academician Alizade expressed solidarity with his Russian counterpart. "A joint with the Russian scientists study of the Caucasus, the resettlement of people in the Caucasus, underwater marine and coastal studies in the Caspian Sea have become an important area of science in Azerbaijan and Russia," Trend cited him as saying.
The President of the Russian Academy of Sciences said that the agreement will help expand bilateral cooperation and the development of many areas of science, technology and innovation.
In the final part of the meeting, Sergeyev and Alizade signed an agreement for scientific and technical cooperation. The document reflects such topical issues as the development and implementation of joint projects in priority areas of science and technology, the exchange of information and experience, the training of highly qualified personnel and the organization of joint activities.
In early April, Alexander Sergeyev told Vestnik Kavkaza about his visit to Baku and plans to sign the agreement. "We're also discussing initiative on intensification of work of the five Caspian countries, since leaders of these countries discussed issues related to development of science only briefly during their meeting in Aktau. We believe that there are a lot of joint scientific topics that are interesting for all five countries, including issues related to mineral and biological resources of the Caspian Sea, climate, monitoring of ecology of the Caspian Sea, history of the movement of peoples around the Caspian Sea and their interaction. Following our trip to Baku, we will decide on joint initiative to hold scientific forum of the Caspian countries. We really hope that our Azerbaijani colleagues will support these initiatives and will be one of the main driving forces in implementation of cooperation projects in the Caspian region," he said back then.
The President of the RAS stressed that Russia and Azerbaijan have a high potential for scientific ties to grow. "During Soviet times, there were much more scientific contacts, and in the 1990s our countries decided to focus on cooperation in science with Europe and the United States and weakened contacts with each other. Now we once again understand that we must restart our relationship. It's in our joint interests to support and further develop this area. It's clear that these issues related to the Caspian Sea are important, and I hope that the Caspian initiative, which I mentioned above, will allow us to restore the level of relations in science and education that existed before. There are obviously certain prospects, and most importantly, there's an understanding between all sides," Alexander Sergeyev noted.
