Today.Az»Politics» Ilham Aliyev: Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are important not only for two countries, but also for processes in region - UPDATE - PHOTOS
President of Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Azerbaijan for an official visit on September.
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at an expanded meeting with the Russian President.
"I am confident that this visit will have very good results. Both yesterday and today, we thoroughly exchanged views on a broad agenda of our relations, touched upon details of the bilateral issues, regional affairs. I see that You were again convinced that our relations are important not only for our countries, but also for the processes that occur in the region," said Aliyev.
"I am very pleased that You are accompanied by such a delegation - the heads of various levels of the Russian Federation. It also testifies the importance that You attach to our relations. These relations are very important, very valuable for us. These are strategic partnership relations between friends. I am confident that the visit will have good results, and the documents that we sign will create a very solid base for further development of our relations," said the President of Azerbaijan.
Expressing gratitude for warm reception, the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev said that thorough exchange of views was conducted in a private format, and it was very useful. "I would like to note that this is a new venue for the talks, very comfortable, very convenient. So, the Azerbaijani side has created brilliantly all the conditions for negotiations to take place efficiently. Now in an expanded format, I think we could discuss some economic issues over which our inter-governmental commission have traditionally worked, their heads are present here," said Medvedev.
According to Medvedev, in addition to issues of regional security, it is possible to pay more careful attention to the economic component of cooperation. "Because of the crisis, last year was not easy for our trade - it suffered. This year the tendency is positive, but of course we need to do the best to strengthen them, and to think about getting new projects, new contacts, about ideas that we have already discussed during the private meeting. I think now it would be possible to share these ideas with colleagues," said the President of Russia.
***
Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Dmitry Medvedev of Russia and their spouses toured places of interest in Baku. First Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana Medvedeva visited the Philharmonic Garden. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva informed the Russian President about the history of the Garden and reconstruction works done here.
Then they visited the Icheri Sheher (Inner City), historic core of Azerbaijan`s capital. They were informed about the Icheri Sheher which was included in UNESCO`s World Heritage List in 2000. The Presidents and their spouses also viewed Karvansaray where they were informed about its history. They also visited the Palace of Shirvanshahs. They were told that the palace was built in early 15th century. The Meiden Tower is located near the palace. The Russian President took photographs here. Then, they posed for photographs afterwards.
The visitors also saw works by Azerbaijani artists. The Russian President and his spouse saw paintings reflecting ancient monuments of Azerbaijan. They also had a tea party and saw a documentary film about the Inner City. The Russian President was presented with a keepsake.
Then, the Azerbaijani and Russian presidents and their spouses went for a walk in the National Seaside Park. They were briefed on the reconstruction work carried out in the National Seaside Park. The Azerbaijani capital made a deep impression on the Russian President and his spouse.
***
On Friday, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev presented Friday icons and artworks brought illegally to Azerbaijan to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. The Head of State said these works were seized by the Azerbaijani customs workers on the Azerbaijan-Russian border. President Medvedev, in turn, thanked the Azerbaijani leader for the action calling it a real gesture of friendship. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's official visit to Azerbaijan ended
on September 3. -------------- Sept. 3 16:35
Azerbaijan and Russia have today signed several bilateral documents following an expanded meeting between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Dmitry Medvedev.
***
Following a ceremony of signing Azerbaijan-Russia documents, Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Dmitry Medvedev have made joint press statements.
***
Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Dmitry Medvedev of Russia have today had an expanded meeting. ---------------- 14:27
Following an official welcome ceremony, President Ilham Aliyev met one-on-one with Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. ---------------- 13:35
President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev has today been given an official welcome to Azerbaijan. A guard of honor was lined up for the Russian President at the square decorated with the national flags of the two countries.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his spouse Svetlana Medvedeva were welcomed by Azerbaijan`s President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva. The two Presidents inspected a ceremonial Guard of Honor as an orchestra played the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Russia.
Azerbaijani state and government officials were introduced to President Dmitry Medvedev, while members of the Russian delegation to President Ilham Aliyev. The presidents and their spouses then posed for photographs.
------------- 10:20
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva hosted an official reception in honor of President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and his spouse Svetlana Medvedeva at the Gulustan palace.
The heads of states made speeches at the reception. President Ilham Aliyev said reciprocal visits by the Azerbaijani and Russian leaders contribute to developing the bilateral relations.
“Every visit marks a new page in our relations,” he added.
The Azerbaijani leader said his country enjoys fruitful political and economic cooperation with Russia. “The documents we will sign during this visit will play an important role in development of our relations.”
The President praised the bilateral trade, saying it increased despite last year marked the global economic crisis. On the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, President Ilham Aliyev spoke of Russia's role in the problem's solution.
President Dmitry Medvedev called Azerbaijan Russia`s strategic partner. He said the documents to be signed during his visit would strengthen “our friendly relations, and, at the same time, contribute to strengthening the bilateral legal basis”.
The Russian leader praised “strong economic cooperation” with Azerbaijan.
On the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Dmitry Medvedev said Russia will continue its “active role in the settlement of the problem”.
He praised the humanitarian and cultural cooperation between the two countries. Dmitry Medvedev hailed Azerbaijan`s respecting the Russian language and culture, saying “we have the same attitude towards the big Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia”.
***
President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev visited the Alley of Martyrs to commemorate Azerbaijani heroes who gave their lives for the country`s independence and territorial integrity. A ceremonial guard of honor was lined up for the Russian President here.
He laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument here. A military orchestra played the national anthems of Russia and Azerbaijan.
***
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited the Alley of Honors to lay a wreath at the tomb of Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev. The Russian leader also put flowers at the grave of prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva.
***
President of Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Azerbaijan for an official visit on Sept. 2. A guard of honor was lined up for the President at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport decorated with the national flags of Azerbaijan and Russia. Dmitry Medvedev was welcomed here by First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov and other officials.
/AzerTAc, Trend/
Click photos to enlarge:
A meeting at airport
The Russian president visits monument to national leader Heydar Aliyev
The president visits Martyr's Alley
Azerbaijani president and his spouse host oficial reception in honor of Russian president and his spouse in Gulustan Palace
--------------------------- Sept. 4 13:27
Click photos to enlarge:
Official welcoming ceremony
President ilham Aliyev presents icons and artworks brought illegally to Azerbaijan to Russian counterpart
The two presidents meet in private
A meeting in an enlarged format
Signing of Azerbaijan-Russia documents
The presidents give press conference
Azerbaijani, Russian presidents and their spouses tour places of interest in Baku
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at an expanded meeting with the Russian President.
