Even such a difficult problem as Nagorno Karabakh can be settled on the bases of norms of international law and the mutual willingness of the parties.
An official reception in honor of Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev and his spouse Svetlana Medvedeva was held on behalf of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva at the Gulistan palace on September 2.
Official website for the President of Azerbaijan reports that the heads of states made speeches at the reception.
In his speech, Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev said:
“Dear Ilham Heydarovich!
Dear Mehriban Arifovna!
Dear friends and colleagues!
It is always a pleasure to come here, because it is always a visit to our friends, our close neighbors and our strategic partners. This visit has been prepared not only for a day. This is a special visit because indeed for the first time in the history of our relations we have reached a very important agreement. Ilham Heydarovich knows that it was not easy to prepare it. It is now because we argued, though there are always some questions which require discussions. Merely because this is a complex and important document. And if for our country this is one of the first documents about division of borders, resolution of a number of frontier issues, for Azerbaijan it is the first document. Therefore, I think we have worked hard and today we will have an official signing. This is very important for our friendly relations to develop on a reliable standard basis for these relations to be the relations of partners based on norms of international law. This document is an act of international law. There are economic agreements that strengthen our interaction. Tomorrow we will sign one big document of this kind and some other documents.
What does it prove? It shows that the relations between our countries are growing diverse every year. Certainly, we are always happy to see you in Moscow. We have numerous contacts on the international arena and hold different meetings. But during such visits we usually have some accumulation of quantitative changes and their transfer into quite a new state. I would like this visit of the Russian president and the Russian delegation to be marked with such a shift of quantitative into qualitative changes.
We have discussed the whole agenda. I would like to say that certainly in the past years we have progressed much in construction of economic relations. Energy cooperation is a cornerstone in these relations. But I would like our cooperation not to be limited to energy. We are big energy countries, but our countries are facing the task of modernizing our economies, while crisis has shown that even big energy supplies depend on the situation on the market. Therefore, our task is to change economic conditions in our countries. I believe that we are able to support each other in this, by developing cooperation in other spheres. I mean construction in high technologies, producing, infrastructural and even tourism cooperation. These all are the components are our common work.
The security issues are a very important topic. You were right to say that our states are Caucasus states, they are friendly Caspian countries. And thus, we must look into the future. We must do so that to establish order and to avert conflicts. There are sufficient problems in our region-both hidden and surface. Our task is to try to react to such challenges. Russia is aware of its role in these processes. Even such a difficult problem as Nagorno Karabakh can be settled on the bases of norms of international law and the mutual willingness of the parties. We have repeatedly met recently. Frankly speaking, I am satisfied with the dynamics we have gained. The result are probably more modest. But the only thing we cannot doubt is the good will of Russia to promote the resolution of this conflict by all means. We will further take all efforts for this, including me, personally.
Our friendly humanitarian relations require separate analysis. We have mentioned a special careful attitude to the Russian language. I would like to admit that certainly it is great please for me, and I think it is also important for Azerbaijan because we are close countries. We have a long history and today we are developing nearby and certainly in this sense the Russian language has a definite importance. But it does not mean that Russia must not do anything for the development of the Azerbaijani language. You know, I have recently passed a decision for broadcasting of channels via satellite for friendly countries. Russia has a very big Azerbaijani diaspora and, certainly, it is very important that it could get news in Azerbaijani, watch programs and films. Certainly, they all speak Russia but they must also remember their native language. Therefore, there will be such broadcasting.
I think it is also very useful not speaking of large exchanges, school in Ulyanovsk you have just mentioned and a number of other examples of good cooperation. This is very important.
By the way, it is also important for Russia. Russia is a very complex state, it is a multinational state, multiconfessional country and we must be friends with all neighbors for us to have a civil peace and order.
Therefore, we are very happy to be here. Thank you for your invitation. I am sure that we will have productive talks and friendly communication today and tomorrow.
I, as the president of Russia, only have to raise the glass for the health of the President of Azerbaijan, respected Ilham Heydarovich, for the health of his wide, respected Mehriban Arifovna, for the health of all our Azerbaijani families, for peace and prosperity of our peoples!”.
1news.az