Vladimir Putin Presents Order of Friendship to Mehriban Aliyeva

Baku /22.11.19 / Turan: The Head of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin today received in Novo-Ogaryovo the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, who is on a visit to Russia.

During the meeting, the head of the Russian state handed Mehriban Aliyeva the state award of the Russian Federation - the Order of Friendship - for her services in developing and strengthening Russian-Azerbaijani relations, the press service of the President of the Russian Federation reports.

Putin expressed satisfaction with the growing volume of trade and economic relations, which increased by 26 percent in the first 9 months of this year.

“We maintain relations in almost all areas, at the level of parliaments and public organizations. I have very good, trusting relations with the President of Azerbaijan,” Putin said.

He also noted that on November 23, Aliyeva and Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko will open the Tenth Russian-Azerbaijani Inter-regional Forum. “This, I believe, is an extremely important area of ​​our cooperation, because a significant amount of our cooperation is going exactly at the regional level,” Putin said.

Aliyeva, for her part, expressed "deep appreciation for the invitation to visit Russia on an official visit." “I am very glad to be in Moscow again: Moscow is a close, dear city for me, my student years passed here, and every time Moscow pleases the eye,” said the First Vice President.

She also expressed gratitude for the award of the state award of the Russian Federation - the Order of Friendship - to her.

She conveyed greetings and best wishes from the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

“Relations with the Russian Federation occupy a crucial place in the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. As you noted, in all directions we see a positive trend. There is a regular political dialogue at the level of heads of state. Azerbaijan and Russia support each other in the international arena,” Aliyeva said.

She also pointed to a steady increase in the flow of tourists from Russia. “Last year, 900 thousand Russians visited Azerbaijan, and this year we expect the growth of this indicator,” Aliyeva said.

“Azerbaijan has a great respect for Russian culture and the Russian language,” Aliyeva added.

Branches of Lomonosov Moscow State University and Sechenov Moscow State Medical University operate in Baku. Since this year, the joint implementation of the double master's degree program of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations has begun.

In 338 schools in Azerbaijan, education is in Russian, and in 14 state universities, Russian-language departments function. 11,000 Azerbaijani students are studying in Russia.

“And, of course, the many-thousand Russian community of Azerbaijan makes its worthy contribution to the overall development of our country,” the First Vice President of Azerbaijan emphasized.

Putin, in turn, confirmed that Azerbaijan "is really is one of the countries of the former Soviet Union, where we feel the attitude to Russian culture and the Russian language is maintained at the highest level."

“We greatly appreciate this, because it is the basis that allows us to develop relations in all other areas, including the economy and humanitarian ties in the broad sense of the word. We are very grateful to you for this, and for our part we will do everything in order to support this trend in, I believe, our common heritage. Because this is what allows people to communicate with each other without any barriers, and allows them to develop relations - both interpersonal and at the state level,” Putin said. —06B-