Kremlin considers Azerbaijan great friend, ally of Russia

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov underscored the deep-rooted friendship and alliance between Russia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing the significant potential for further cooperation between the two nations.

Addressing a briefing, Peskov responded to questions regarding the recent visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Moscow, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) construction, Cazeta.ru reports.

Responding to inquiries about the close attention paid to Azerbaijan by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov reiterated the importance of the relationship between the two countries. "Because it is our big neighbor, friend, partner, and ally. And indeed, we have a lot of common interests. We have great potential for cooperation and, most importantly, rich traditions of our bilateral relations," Peskov noted.

He further emphasized the shared political will of Moscow and Baku to strengthen their ties, highlighting the commitment to deepening cooperation across various sectors.

Meanwhile, responding to questions regarding the status of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia, the Kremlin spokesperson said there is no indication of Armenia seeking its withdrawal.

Peskov told journalists that there have been no signals indicating Yerevan's desire for its withdrawal. Speaking to reporters, Peskov highlighted the anticipated discussion between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the near future to address various bilateral issues, Kommersant reports.

The spokesperson emphasized that there have been no indications from Armenian authorities regarding any plans to request the withdrawal of the Russian military base. "There have been no signals to that effect," he noted.

"We expect that already in the short-term President Putin and Prime Minister Pashinyan will have an opportunity to discuss both these and, if necessary, other topical issues in person," Peskov remarked during a press call.

However, he did not provide specific details regarding the timing of the anticipated meeting between the two leaders.