The first Azerbaijani-Russian cultural and humanitarian forum has ended in Baku with the adoption of a joint statement.
The statement proposed making the Azerbaijani and Russian presidents the honorary chairmen of the forum.
Addressing the closing ceremony, the director general of Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency, Vitaly Ignatenko, described the forum as “productive”. He said it would make a “huge” contribution to further expanding Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation.
Ignatenko also shared his memories of Azerbaijan's late president, dubbed Azerbaijan's national leader, Heydar Aliyev.
The head of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration, Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev said the forum was of great importance for both nations. Mehdiyev said “Azerbaijan is the most stable country in the region” and the driving force behind major projects.
Mehdiyev talked about President Ilham Aliyev's efforts to use oil wealth to develop human resources and outlined plans for the near future.
The head of the Russian Presidential Administration, Sergey Naryshkin, thanked the Azerbaijani side for the excellent organization of the forum, describing it as "one more step towards the development of the Azerbaijani-Russian relationship”.
Speakers, including the Russian president's special envoy for International and cultural Cooperation, Mikhail Shvidkoy, author Chingiz Abdullayev, the rector of Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Anatoly Torkunov, and Baku Slavic University rector and author Kamal Abdulla said they were sure the forum would contribute to strengthening bilateral ties.
Cable TV for diaspora
The forum consisted of plenary and group sessions. It was proposed during the culture session to open a cable television channel for the Azerbaijani diaspora in Moscow.
The initiative was proposed by Mikhail Gusman, deputy director general of ITAR-TASS news agency. Addressing Russian Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev, he said that more than one million Azerbaijanis lived and worked in Moscow so a cable channel should be set up for them.
Avdeyev replied that he would support a suitable proposal.
Education
Some of the delegates to the forum visited higher education institutes in Azerbaijan. Gennady Burbulis, chairman of the upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, visited Baku Slavic University on 22 January.
Addressing students and staff, Burbulis outlined Russian policy today and spoke about the collapse of the Soviet Union.
He said that Azerbaijan's successful economic policy had proved the country resistant to the economic crisis.
Anatoly Torkunov, rector of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, visited the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA).
Torkunov and ADA Rector Hafiz Pashayev discussed the development of relations between the two institutes since the signing of a cooperation agreement in 2007.
"Our professors make frequent visits and teach courses," Torkunov said. "Our postgraduate students have been to summer schools here. Today we agreed on a fundamentally new way of cooperation - a joint master’s course - this is not a subsidiary. Highly qualified professors work here. So, we believe that we should cooperate in the establishment of joint programs. We plan to create several joint master’s degree programs. Students will be granted two diplomas - one by MGIMO and one by ADA. In addition, we have agreed on cooperation in research and plan to hold a series of conferences.”
”Our relationship is at the level of strategic partnership. I think that we can fulfill all our plans because we and ADA are not only willing but also committed to cooperation,” Torkunov said.