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Alexander Karavayev, Deputy Director General Information and Analytical Center for the Study of the socio-political processes in the post-Soviet space
I think, as regards Russian-Azerbaijani relations,
Russian-Azerbaijani interaction, we cannot say that they have been too complicated.
If we talk about the past 12 years or the last decade of our cooperation,
for Russia this period which passed under the symbol and, say, under the emblem of Vladimir Putin’s rule,
while in Azerbaijan the first decade of the XXI century began with the transition
from Heydar Aliyev to Ilham Aliyev and his full approval as an authoritative leader with his own strategy,
with his own vector.
I think, during this period our relations,
in principle, witnessed no strong reductions of the intensity or, worse, crises.
There have been various difficulties, complexities, the moments when the body of our interaction
was placed in difficult circumstances.
Naturally, we are in a difficult region: Russia and Azerbaijan are not Central European countries,
who have long lived in the postwar world, for nearly a century, more than 70 years.
We are in a very complex region, and the mass of external circumstances or active external actors,
which do not negate one another, influence and build up certain conditions for our cooperation,
and they are not always simple.
However, during this time, I think, our leaders have found enough forces,
and, as experience has shown, these forces were really embodied
into concrete steps in order to circumvent the pitfalls and riffs
that somehow appeared in the space of our social and economic interaction.
I will, of course, give a few examples in order not to sound too abstract.
Let's emphasize, perhaps, three or four areas and compare it with what we had with other countries.
For example, as you remember, a time when Russia raised gas prices.
Immediately, a whole string of conflicts with transit countries,
a very complex problem, which flowed in geopolitics, have impacted on human relationships.
At that time, Azerbaijan was in a transitional state - it consumes Russian gas,
and then it became the importer of foreign markets.
Perhaps that's an example of this period of relations against the backdrop of the conflicts
which Russia had with Ukraine, Belarus and other countries.
It clearly shows how to circumvent the difficulties and how to solve problems in a constructive way.
Of course, influential in many ways was the fact that, due to minerals that belong to Azerbaijan,
it felt more confident both on the regional and the global markets.
But nonetheless, it is one of the examples of how to avoid difficulties
while actually being in a complicated situation.
The second point that have already been briefly discussed and touched upon in some the speeches,
is Russia's position in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The matter us that, and this is quite fair, Russia operates with both right and left hand;
with one hand it interacts with Baku and with another hand it works with Yerevan,
without trying to put much pressure on Armenia,
so that Armenia adopts a series of decisions towards normalization of relations with Baku.
But, nevertheless, this circumstance - let's call it so, -
this circumstance of a regional Russian geopolitics has not become a clinch,
a dead-end area, where the relations between Baku and Moscow could enter,
if other leaders wished so, for example, if in Baku foreign policy decisions were taken by other people.
We do not have to go far for the example - just look at the relationship between Georgia and Russia,
where intolerance and a number of irreconcilable actions eventually led to armed conflict in August 2008.
Of course, here we must understand that for Russia is very difficult to find the key to this conflict,
to approach this conflict in such a way as to at least maintain the level of interaction,
and at maximum not to quarrel with the parties to the conflict.
Therefore, we can understand the care with which the Kremlin operates.
And I want to draw attention, again returning to the position of Baku,
to the fact that during these years this circumstance has not become a limiter for our bilateral relations.
Finally goes the third point, which perhaps has not been mentioned.
But as soon as the organizer of today's events - is the central structure of the diaspora,
All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress (AAC),
we must say a few words about how the diaspora
and its structure over the years avoided those crises that arose in connection with the migration,
trade and economic policy of Russia within the country.
The fact that there were several unpleasant moments for the diaspora
in other countries is related to the fact that some previously authorized procedures were canceled,
and new complexities and limitations were introduced.
And I should pay tribute to the structure of the AAC -
they always found a possible power and resources in order to find clues to find solutions in the regions,
in collaboration with the executive power in Russia, in Moscow, at the federal level.
Although, of course, we cannot say that this work was done entirely successfully,
and yet, again, when compared with the position of other large communities in Russia,
the situation of the Azerbaijani diaspora is, in this sense, quite successful and sustainable.
What do you think about today's conference?
Rasim Musabekov, a political scientist, deputy of Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic:
It is good that basically for holidays we do not conduct some events
where we praise each other or just say some nice words, but, instead, held a conference at which,
though briefly, we were able to survey the path passed during
the past 20 years both by Russia and Azerbaijan, and most importantly to see
to what extent the cooperation between our countries has been strengthened,
and what are prospects in this regard.
I repeat, even though the result of this conference is not the adoption of a document
or some other program but the exchange of views,
in my opinion this is a very good way to celebrate the national holidays
which were well paid tribute to both by Russia and Azerbaijan these days.
How do you see the future of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan?
I think that in the region, Azerbaijan is the main partner of Russia,
a partner who does not pick on, a partner who does not constantly request something from Russia,
such as preferences in the supply of energy resources, as other post-Soviet states do.
Azerbaijan is ready to pay for everything.
Azerbaijan is ready to actively cooperate with Russia on solving problems in the Caspian Sea,
the North Caucasus, but at the same time strengthen the interaction on the third international markets.
Given the fact that Azerbaijan is a member of the Security Council,
I think that this interaction is important for Russia, also within the UN.
The potential to develop Azerbaijan’s relationship with Russia,
and, importantly, mutually beneficial relationship is a very large and,
I believe, it will constantly grow.
The example is at least that we previously lacked cooperation in military technology,
and now, perhaps, Azerbaijan is one of the main buyers of Russian weapons in the former Soviet Union,
and it is a buyer who is not just borrowing something, but pays fully for all.