Azerbaijani-Russian ties involve inter-parliament cooperation, the head of the department for social-political affairs Ali Gasanov said at the opening of a round table on the topic 'The role of parliament in development of civil society', organized by the Institute of Studies, Trend reports.
Gasanov noted the role of the Institute of Eurasian Studies in developing the civil societies of both countries. He said that the initiatives of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process inspire hope for a settlement of the issue.
This Wednesday, Astrakhan saw a trilateral meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia - Ilkham Aliyev, Dmitry Medvedev and Serzh Sargsyan - where they discussed Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a declaration which involves returning military prisoners and humanitarian issues. Gasanov said that this is especially topical for the return of the body of Azerbaijani national hero Mubariz Ibragimov.
The head of the president's department for inter-regional and cultural
relations with foreign states Sergey Vinokurov said that
inter-parliament ties play an important role in all spheres. He
believes that the main sphere of cooperation is economic. According to
Vinokurov, Russia is the main Azerbaijani economic partner.
Chairman of the parliamentary committee for economic policy of
Azerbaijan Ziyad Samedzade said that advanced civil society is the
primary goal of each state. Azerbaijan's foreign and domestic economic
policies meet the interests of society, he said.
Samedzade added that the legislative branch supports the development
of civil society. Over 100 laws were adopted to protect interests of
society. Parliament is ready to use experience of the Russian
parliament in this sphere.
Ismail Agakishiyev, head of the Center of Caucasus Studies of the
Russian University for the Humanities, Director General of Vestnik
Kavkaza and Alexey Vlasov, deputy head of the History Department of
the Moscow State University of Lomonosov, Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik
Kavkaza, are taking part in the meeting.
