President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Konstantin Kosachev and Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov on 2 May.
Konstantin Kosachev conveyed greetings from Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko and Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin to the Head of State and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.
President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the congratulations and asked to convey his greetings to Valentina Matviyenko and Vyacheslav Volodin.
Congratulating the Head of State on the organization of the VI World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue at a high level, Konstantin Kosachev stressed the huge international interest in the event. Noting the importance of the Azerbaijani President’s conceptual speech at the Forum, the guest said the thoughts voiced in the President’s speech on the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, activities of the Non-Aligned Movement, neo-colonialism and other topics are very relevant in modern conditions. It is gratifying that Azerbaijan occupies a worthy place at the international level, which, in turn, is becoming an increasingly important factor in the Azerbaijani-Russian bilateral relations, Konstantin Kosachev stressed. He noted that President Ilham Aliyev’s recent visit to Moscow was very successful. Stressing that Azerbaijan has achieved huge successes in economic, social and other spheres, Konstantin Kosachev said that every time they come to Baku, they witness grandiose development processes going on in our capital.
The head of state expressed satisfaction that Russia was represented at the VI World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, which has become one of the important platforms in the sphere of international dialogue, by a high-level delegation.
Touching upon his recent visit to Moscow, President Ilham Aliyev said it was very productive and once again demonstrated the strategic nature of our allied relations.
The Head of State emphasised the meeting held jointly with Russian President Vladimir Putin with veterans and workers of the railway industry in Moscow on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. The meeting noted with satisfaction the exceptional services of great leader Heydar Aliyev in the implementation of the Baikal-Amur Mainline during his work in the USSR leadership, despite the fact that even in Soviet times there were some forces opposing this project, there were numerous technical, bureaucratic and natural obstacles.
President Ilham Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan and Russia, as two neighbouring states, provide each other with mutual support, mutual respect and demonstrate the maximum level of cooperation in addressing the most important issues of bilateral and multilateral agenda. The President of Azerbaijan noted that Russia plays a fundamental role in security issues in our region and beyond. Stressing the progressive development of bilateral relations, President Ilham Aliyev regarded it as an important factor in the development of the South Caucasus region and wider geography.
The head of state said that during 4 years of leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as being currently in the ‘troika presidency’ of this institution, Azerbaijan has made many significant initiatives, made great efforts related to important issues, including the fight against neo-colonialism. Saying Azerbaijan holds events on this subject both in Azerbaijan and abroad, President Ilham Aliyev said our country will continue efforts aimed at exposing the crimes of neo-colonisers in the past and at the present stage, revealing double standards against other countries and peoples.
At the meeting satisfaction was expressed with the comprehensive development of cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries. Importance was attached to the exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of great leader Heydar Aliyev organised last year in the administrative building of the State Duma of Russia with participation of Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.
Satisfaction was expressed with the recent development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia in tourism sphere and increase in the number of tourists coming to Azerbaijan from Russia. The increase in the number of flights between the cities of the two countries was seen as a positive factor. The head of our state said the restoration of the pre-pandemic number of tourists and indicators in the tourism sector is already realistic.
In the course of the talk, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia in the humanitarian sphere was touched upon, and care shown to the Russian language in our country and the teaching of the Russian language in schools was emphasised in this regard.
At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the prospects of development of the North-South transport corridor.
