Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev met yesterday and expressed readiness to continue development of bilateral cooperation, especially in the humanitarian field. Ismail Agakishiyev, President of the Consulting-Analysis-PR Union of Companies, and Alexey Vlasov, Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, have discussed Putin’s visit.
Vlasov noted that the previous visit had been made 7 years ago. He believes that relations between the two states did not worsen. Some Azerbaijani media sources working for third parties casted doubts about the real state of relations.
Agakishiyev said that there was no issue the presidents could not resolve. He emphasized that a dialogue was possible at a level of leaders and society. The sides needed real steps to give each other a true image, the expert noted. Agakishiyev reminded that Azerbaijan was supporting the Russian language and culture, adding that it was the basis of relations.
Vlasov agreed that the basis needed strengthening. He clarified that the humanitarian documents signed yesterday would benefit the initiatives of NGOs, information agencies. Vlasov called the Baku Humanitarian Forum an excellent project and said that its annual meetings should be supplemented by discussions of historians, political analysts and sociologists.
Agakishiyev expressed joy that Putin and Aliyev mentioned the MSU branch in Baku. Education projects have great prospects for innovations. It would be nice to have 10-20 Azerbaijani students studying in the MSU, he believes. The expert added that a program for exchange of students and development of master degrees was needed.
