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Matviyenko to discuss broader Russia-Azerbaijan relations in Baku

Matviyenko will traditionally dwell on the development of regional and border ties between the countries

BAKU, April 9 (Itar-Tass) —— Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko will discuss the ways to build up relations between Russia and Azerbaijan here on Monday. She arrived on a two-day official visit in Baku on Sunday.

Matviyenko is to meet with Speaker of Milli Mejlis (parliament) of Azerbaijan Oktai Asadov. She will also have meetings with President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Artur Rasi-Zade. High on the agenda of the negotiations is the discussion on the situation of bilateral cooperation and the setting of promising trends for its development, the press service of the Federation Council reported. “The sides will also discuss the tasks, which the parliamentarians of the countries are facing for the legislative support of broader economic cooperation,” the press service said. The interlocutors will also discuss the parliamentary dimension of integration processes in the former Soviet republics, share views on youth projects under the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.

“Russia values highly the work of Azerbaijani lawmakers in the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, their constructive cooperation with colleagues from Russia and other countries,” the press service of the Federation Council said. The Federation Council speaker believes that “without human understanding between our peoples the development of integration processes in our countries is impossible.”

Matviyenko will traditionally dwell on the development of regional and border ties between the countries. “The Federation Council, as the house of regions, gives close attention to this aspect of interstate relations. The potential of cooperation with Azerbaijan is very high in this sphere,” the press service said. Over 500 enterprises and organizations from 71 Russian federal constituents are involved in the foreign trade with Azerbaijan.

Matviyenko will visit the Baku State University, where she will deliver a report for the students and professors of this oldest Azerbaijani higher educational establishment. The Federation Council speaker will also visit the Geidar Aliyev Foundation, which is the largest non-governmental organization in Azerbaijan, which is implementing large-scale humanitarian, cultural and educational projects in the country and abroad.

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