PM: Azerbaijan, Russia creating commission to combat Caspian Sea shrinkage

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov has said that Azerbaijan and Russia set up a joint commission to tackle the issue of shrinking Caspian Sea water levels. 

"Other Caspian countries are expected to join the effort soon," Asadov said during talks with Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

Asadov reminded that the issue of the Caspian Sea was raised during Russian President Vladimir Putin's official visit to Azerbaijan in August.

"By the orders of the two presidents, bilateral working groups have already been formed at the level of deputy ministers. This is a very important agenda. I believe other Caspian countries may also join the efforts after us," Asadov said.

He emphasised that the task of the commission is to investigate the causes behind the declining water levels and to develop measures to mitigate seawater shrinkage.

"This is a critical issue for our region, and I hope it is equally important for Russia, as President Putin mentioned," Asadov added.

As for the topic of bilateral humanitarian cooperation, Asadov highlighted Azerbaijan's respect for the Russian language and culture. 

"We highly value the Russian language and culture in Azerbaijan. Expanding cooperation in the field of education is on our agenda," he noted.

Moreover, Asadov said that Azerbaijan and Russia are exploring a range of new initiatives for cooperation, particularly in the oil and gas sector. 

"As a country rich in oil and gas, Azerbaijan remains a key player in the energy sector, both today and in the future. Russia, on the other hand, is a global leader in many energy areas," Asadov stated.

He emphasised the growing positive development of bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas industry.

"Our collaboration is progressing well across multiple areas," Asadov added, highlighting the presence of major Russian energy companies operating in Azerbaijan. 

"We have traditionally had very productive cooperation with these companies," he remarked, highlighting the importance of the bilateral partnership. 

Asadov also emphasised that Russia is a crucial partner for Azerbaijan in the agro-industrial complex, both in terms of exports and imports of agricultural products. "This includes the export of Azerbaijani goods to Russia, as well as the import of Russian agricultural products into Azerbaijan," he said. 

The prime minister revealed that, by the end of 2023, Azerbaijan's agricultural exports to Russia had increased by over 9 per cent, and the growth continued into 2024, with a 12 per cent increase so far this year. 

"Russia, in turn, is also a reliable partner. We import no less than 1 million tons of wheat from Russia, and by the end of October 2024, we expect to have imported nearly 900,000 tons, with this figure continuing to rise," Asadov noted.

Azerbaijan imports big volumes of fertilisers from Russia. "In the current year, we have already brought in 107,000 tons within just the first eight months," Asadov added. 

The Azerbaijani prime minister highlighted the "positive dynamics" of bilateral relations with Russia.

"Azerbaijan is committed to further strengthening and expanding our friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia, as well as deepening our strategic partnership," he concluded.

Asadov stated that the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Baku in August has significantly boosted bilateral relations, particularly in the trade and economic sectors.

"Judging by the current growth in mutual trade, it is expected that this year we will set a new record. According to our data, the trade turnover for the first nine months of the year reached $3.5 billion," Asadov said, highlighting the positive trend in economic ties between the two nations.

By Naila Huseynova