Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

The ministers concurred that the dynamic evolution of strategic partnership relations between Russia and Azerbaijan meets the vital interests of the peoples of the two countries and is an important factor for the maintenance of peace and stability in the Caucasus.

During the talks held on August 18 between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijani Republic Elmar Mamedyarov, special attention was devoted to examining the implementation of the accords reached in the course of the Russian-Azerbaijani summit in Moscow in February of this year and recorded in the Moscow Declaration of the Russian Federation and the Azerbaijani Republic.

Lavrov and Mamedyarov concurred that the dynamic evolution of the relations of a strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan meets the vital interests of the peoples of the two countries and is an important factor for the maintenance of peace and stability in the Caucasus. In this context they noted the importance of working towards the expansion of political, economic and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan so that it more fully corresponds to the potentials and requirements of the two countries.

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh settlement was examined in detail. The Russian side welcomed the regular character of the dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the level of presidents and foreign ministers of the two countries. It reaffirmed its interest in an early solution of the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh and in normalizing Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, and readiness to facilitate this in every way, both in the framework of the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group and on a bilateral basis.

In discussing the international agenda, the main attention was devoted to problems in the struggle against terrorism and other new threats and challenges and to Iraqi settlement. Caspian themes also were discussed at length.

The heads of the foreign affairs agencies expressed a mutual desire to deepen further cooperation within the CIS, UN, OSCE and other international organizations and to hold consultations and a regular exchange of opinions on questions of mutual concern.

August 18, 2004