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Russia's FM starts Azeri visit

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  • Russia's FM starts Azeri visit

    RIA Novosti, Russia
    Feb 1, 2005

    RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER STARTS AZERI VISIT


    BAKU, February 1 (RIA Novosti) - Sergei Lavrov, Russia's Minister of
    Foreign Affairs, arrived tonight in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, on a
    two-day official visit.

    The visit is coming in conformity with top-level bilateral
    understandings for a dynamic political dialogue. It aims to carry on
    efforts to step up bilateral foreign-ministerial contacts, says
    Alexander Yakovenko, Russia's official Foreign Ministry spokesman.

    Mr. Lavrov intends to discuss implementation of understandings for
    extended economic partnership-in particular, in the fuel-and-energy
    complex, and work for closer direct economic contacts between Russian
    and Azeri regions. The visit schedule also envisages an opinion
    exchange on current efforts to elaborate the Caspian Sea legal
    status, and on prospects for another, second summit of the five
    littoral countries, Mr. Yakovenko went on.

    There are serious problems between the Caspian basin countries with
    their different stances on the sea legal status. The problems forced
    the five Caspian countries-Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and
    Turkmenistan-to put off their summit, initially scheduled for January
    2005, with Tehran for venue. Their maiden summit, of April 2002, in
    Turkmenistan's Ashgabat, was an utter failure as the Parties could
    not overcome their differences for a coordinated final statement. The
    work goes on now on a multilateral arrangement, having gone over to
    an ad hoc team, made of Deputy Foreign Ministers and special envoys.

    Russia and Azerbaijan mean, during Mr. Lavrov's visit, to pay
    particular attention to coordinating both countries' efforts
    enhancing the effect of their anti-terror alliance.

    Karabakh settlement will not stay out of the agenda, added Mr.
    Yakovenko.

    It is up to the conflicting parties themselves to come at a mutually
    acceptable way to settle the conflict. That is what Russia's Foreign
    Ministry proceeds from. Russia is willing to do as much as possible
    for the cause on a bilateral arrangement and as co-chair of the OSCE
    Minsk group. It is also willing to be guarantor of prospective
    understandings, reassured the diplomat.

    The Russian and Azeri Foreign Ministers intend to exchange opinions
    on topical regional and global developmental issues. They will also
    discuss the ways to promote the United Nations' leading role, and to
    step up cooperation within the CIS. The negotiators will debate the
    ways to step up partnership of the two countries' Foreign Ministries
    in the Caucasus and worldwide, and to coordinate their activities in
    international organizations.

    President Ilkham Aliev of the host country is expected to receive Mr.
    Lavrov.

    The visitor's close schedule for tomorrow includes laying wreaths to
    the monument of Geidar Aliev, Azerbaijan's previous President, and to
    the Eternal Fire memorial. He will meet at the negotiation table with
    Elmar Mamedyarov, his Azeri counterpart, visit the Slav University of
    Baku, and meet in conference with Abbas Abbasov, Azerbaijan's First
    Deputy Prime Minister.
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