Azerbaijani, Russian parliament speakers discuss bilateral ties PHOTO

Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova met with the chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina Matvienko as part of a working visit to St. Petersburg on April 13.

According to the Report, at the meeting held within the framework of the 55th plenary session of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, it was noted that today interparliamentary cooperation has become an effective mechanism for further expansion of relations between CIS member countries. The Parliamentary Assembly plays an important role in this process.

It was emphasised at the meeting that 30 years have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation last year. According to the agenda of the day, determined by the heads of states of Azerbaijan and Russia and serving to deepen the relations between the countries, these relations develop on the basis of good neighborliness and mutual understanding and are based on the principles of mutual respect and trust.

The important role of the heads of state in the development of relations between the countries was particularly stressed, and it was noted that the Declaration on Allied Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, signed within the framework of the official visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the Russian Federation in February of last year, marked the beginning of a new stage in the development of these relations.

At the meeting, it was noted that relations in the field of economy, including in the field of mutual investments, are successful. Relations in the humanitarian sphere are also an important direction of cooperation.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova also informed about the large-scale reconstruction and construction works carried out by Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from occupation, about the "Great Return" program, about the beginning of the process of returning former displaced persons to their ancestral homeland.

It was noted that the third international airport in Lachin is being built on the territories liberated from occupation.

The speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament noted that Armenia, having grossly violated the provisions of the trilateral declaration, has not yet withdrawn its troops from the territory of Azerbaijan. She uses the Lachine road for military purposes and for the export of illegally exploited natural resources to Azerbaijan. A peaceful action of representatives of the civil society of Azerbaijan on Lachin road is held as a sign of protest against these illegal actions of Armenia. However, Armenia is trying to deceive the international community with false statements about the alleged "closure" of Lachinskaya road.

Armenia, taking advantage of the fact that the European Union's mission is in the country, conducts actions that worsen the situation enabling military provocations.