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Hello, Efim Iosifovich! Recently the international humanitarian forum took place in Baku.
What are your impressions from the event?
Efim Pivovar, RSUH President, historian, Associate Member of the RAS
I am happy that the initiative which was born several years ago has got such a nice continuance.
The forum is really international and is appreciated by the humanitarian community.
It is unique in comparison with other forums which take place in various countries.
There are many economic and political forums, but few humanitarian forums.
It brings together various experts: scientists, social activists, politicians, journalists,
artists, writers,composers.
It encourages development of humanitarian ties between nations.
What do you think about relations between Russia and Azerbaijan?
We are strategic partners.
It is not an empty phrase for us, but a reality
which is related to the history of two nations which provide the partnership.
We have deep roots of cooperation at the social level, at the humanitarian level of the two countries,
at the level of common families, common people.
So I donít see an alternative to an improvement of the partnership.
Constant cooperation is realized at all levels
ñ in the economy, in business, in common life, in routine, in culture, in science and in education.
What can you say about the contribution by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev
to the development of relations between the countries?
It is a key moment for the development of relations.
First of all, it is a guarantee of the fact that they will be improved.
The policy of our leaders determines the format and intensiveness of our relations.
Even the humanitarian forum appeared as an initiative of the two presidents.
A qualitative progress in relations between our countries in the post-Soviet period
was connected with a meeting between Heydar Aliyev and Vladimir Putin at the turn of the century.
Thus, I think it is a guarantee of bilateral relations.
Do Russia and Azerbaijan have a potential for economic integration
within the Eurasian projects implemented by Russia?
I think we have potential and it is not being used to the full.
Both Russia and Azerbaijan provide a multi-vector foreign policy,
multi-vector economic and trade relations with other countries, neighbors, friends,
partners, new countries which havenít been partners previously;
but it doesnít prevent development of relations between our countries,
because the history of our cooperation is very long.
I believe the potential of our relations is not used to the full.
Both Russia and Azerbaijan export oil and gas, but we are interested in joint transport flows in the sphere;
we are interested in technological cooperation in the sphere.
Even though our countries are both exporters.
There are many other spheres where we have a big potential, and it is not used to the full.
Soon the Azerbaijani President will take part in the Vilnius summit of the Eastern Partnership.
How can this influence relations with Russia?
Some political scientists consider the Eastern Partnership, or GUAM, for instance, anti-Russian projects.
But I think that is a simplified interpretation of the processes which are going on in world politics.
The summit and Azerbaijanís participation in it confirm
that Azerbaijan provides a multi-vector foreign policy.
Neither Azerbaijan nor Russia is interested in using it to the detriment of our relations.
So I treat it calmly.
I think both sides are reasonable enough to consider the factor of building a multi-vector policy.
What can be expected from the meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents?
And how can Russia influence the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict today?
Russia is a member of the OSCE Minsk Group,
and the meeting is a result of the activity of the Minsk Group and its co-chairs in the negotiations.
Of course we expect further steps and count on them.
Time will tell whether it will be successful.
However, any talks are better for the nations than the alternative.
The alternative is awful military actions, unfortunately.
So, we support the initiatives, welcome them, and we expect that the meeting
will provide an impetus to development of the peacemaking process.
Russiaís position is well known, and of course we will continue promoting it in the future.