Twenty years ago, on 4 April 1992, the Protocol on establishing diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation was signed. During the past period a high level of bilateral cooperation, aimed at the comprehensive strengthening of equitable, mutually beneficial and constructive relations in the spirit of traditional friendship and good neighbourly relations between the Russian and Azerbaijani people, was reached.

The strategic nature of the Azerbaijani-Russian partnership is fixed in the basic bilateral documents - Agreement on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation on 3 July 1997, Baku (2001 and 2008) and Moscow (2008) declarations. A significant event for the further expansion and strengthening of bilateral relations was the signing of the Agreement between the Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation on the state border on 3 September 2010.

Today, the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia is developing steadily and progressively. Rich political dialogue and, above all, regular personal contacts between top leaders of the two countries give it high dynamics. Active inter-Parliamentary ties play a great positive part.

The relationships between two our countries have great potential and are future-oriented. It is necessary to note the common determination of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation to continue a consistent and persistent joint work on strengthening and enriching the mutual relations.

Every year the scope and quality of the Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation in the trade and economic sphere grows.

In 2011 bilateral trade exceeded USD 2.5 billion. There are good prospects for further increase, including through more active involvement in the work of Azerbaijani and Russian regions.

We attach priority to deepening cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, which is based on long-standing traditions of mutual respect between our nations and the common historical and cultural heritage. Exchanges and close cooperation in the field of culture and the arts, science and education, information and youth policy develop successfully.

Results of Baku International Humanitarian Forum under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the President of the Russian Federation, which took place on 10 and 11 October 2011, deserve appreciation. Its theme accords with the realities of the modern globalizing world, and permits to adequately assess the humanitarian aspects of the challenges of the 21st century, and seek ways to solve relevant problems. We support the idea of ​​holding an annual forum.

We reaffirm commitment to promote favourable environment for the preservation and development of cultural identity and traditions of Azerbaijani and the Russian diasporas, respectively, in Russia and Azerbaijan, taking into consideration the particular part of the two communities in bringing together the nations of the two friendly countries.

We positively assess the results of work of the Russian Information and Cultural Centre in Baku, and are confident that the opening of the Azerbaijani Information and Cultural Centre in Moscow will promote further development of bilateral humanitarian ties. Functioning of a branch of the Moscow M.V. Lomonosov State University in Baku and a branch of the Azerbaijani State Economic University in Derbent are of great importance.

We reaffirm the Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation of 3 July 2008, in particular the provision on the importance of a speedy settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of universally recognized norms and principles of international law and, above all, respect and ensuring the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of state borders, as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions and decisions of the OSCE, we reaffirm, as well, the provisions of the Joint Statement of Heads of delegations of the countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group and the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the OSCE summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on 1 December 2010.

We attach great importance to bilateral consultations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Caspian legal status, aimed at ensuring the implementation of agreements reached at the Third Caspian Summit in Baku on 18 November 2010. We support the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the level of deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian littoral states, established to implement the decisions taken by the heads of the Caspian states.

We note the importance of the Commonwealth of Independent States as an important mechanism for the dialogue and cooperation between member states.

We intend to strengthen and expand cooperation in the framework of the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe and other international organizations.

We note with satisfaction that the election of the Republic of Azerbaijan a non-permanent member of UN Security Council contributes to deepening international cooperation, promoting peace, security and stability in the region.

We believe that further progressive development of the Azerbaijani-Russian relations will contribute to implementing the fundamental interests and expectations of our peoples and strengthening the international prestige of both countries as supporters of global stability and security, and it will be a joint contribution to the maintenance of peace and understanding in the world.

Baku, 3 April 2012