
The creation of a common dialogue expert platform bringing together Russian and Azerbaijani experts has been discussed long enough, Alexei Vlasov, a Trend Expert Council member, and the chief editor of the Russian Vestnik Kavkaza analytical agency, said today.
"Today the process is nearing its completion. Whether it will be called an expert club or council of experts has yet to be determined, but the essence remains the same," he said in an interview with Trend.
He said a pool of Russian and Azerbaijani experts intending to actively cooperate in various areas on a constant basis have been identified.
"The matter concerns socio-cultural and economic cooperation and jointly addressing security issues and issues in the Caspian project. In other words, it is a group of experts from the Russian and Azerbaijani sides who want to create a general consensus," Vlasov said.
He said the report defines problems and outlines possible solutions for different areas.
Russia has developed a part of the report with the involvement of Ismayil Agakishiyev, Alexander Karayev, Alexander Revskiy, and me [Alexei Vlasov], but plans to attract Azerbaijani experts, including experts from Trend, to the the process of development. This will form a glance from Azerbaijan. This will be part of the bulk text, integrating the common positions," Vlasov said.
Until now, Vlasov said, the report has focused on topics that have required a common solution, such as the economy, trade, diaspora cooperation, and socio-cultural and humanitarian issues.
Vlasov said the report will also cover security and the Caspian issue.
"But the emphasis will be placed on issues requiring specific suggestions from experts. It is clear that these proposals could be interpreted as a guide for action," he stressed.
He said most of the developments have already been presented to the Azerbaijani counterparts.
/Trend/