One of the key issues of the economic development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations today is the need for the development of the border infrastructure, the plenipotentiary representative of the President of Russia in the North Caucasus Federal District Sergey Melikov said in an interview with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza on the sidelines of the meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan that took place today at the Exhibition of Economic Achievements.
"My participation in the intergovernmental commission is just due to the necessity to adjust a number of matters on cross-border cooperation. Certainly, it is developing very well. In this respect, I would like to thank my Azerbaijani colleagues. A lot of things have already been done. Many initiatives were undertaken by Azerbaijan. Nonetheless, there are things which need to be worked out and clarified today. Above all, there is provision for a favorable stay in both areas near the checkpoints for both Russian and Azerbaijani citizens," the presidential envoy in the North Caucasus Federal District noted.
According to him, the second direction is the need for further development of the infrastructure of border crossings. "In particular, we are discussing the construction of a bridge across the Samur River, which is undertaken by the Azerbaijani side and today its construction is ready to be started. But some obstacles are related to specific problems of our common bureaucracy, some problems are out of the field of our activity. That is why immediate coordination is necessary to solve all these issues," Sergey Malikov said.
"We are here to participate in the inter-governmental commission in order to determine our next steps. Our following actions: we are to create a working group, which is to discuss all these problems at a broader level if it is necessary. Probably additional agreements will also be determined, as well as documents specifying the procedure of our work for the benefit of both countries," the Permanent Representative of the Russian President in the North Caucasian Federal District Sergey Malikov concluded.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu highly appreciated the work of the Russian-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation. "The Commission is working very effectively. Many problems have been solved today. We are two friendly countries, so all the problems may be solved. There are no serious issues that cannot be solved,’’ he added.
The diplomat also informed that a new proposal to establish a business council was made at the meeting of the committee. "I think this can enhance our work. We are optimistic about the future,’’ he said, expressing his satisfaction with the cooperation between the two countries.
"Regional cooperation is at a very good level. The Russian Federation borders with Azerbaijan through Dagestan, which is a brotherly, friendly area,’’ Polad Byulbyulogly said, recalling that recently the Heydar Aliyev Foundation presented the city with a renovated school in honor of the 2000th anniversary of Derbent. ‘‘It is so good when neighbors have good relations. It is an extremely important thing for us," the Ambassador concluded.
