Dmitry Medvedev to visit Baku with Karabakh on the agenda

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is set to pay a two-day visit to Azerbaijani today. Mr Medvedev is expected to discuss a bunch of issues there, among them also the Azerbaijani-Russian economic and trade cooperation, mutual activity on the Caspian Sea during, and the conflict of Nagorno Karabakh, aid to the Russian President Sergei Prikhodko told Ria Novosti.

According to him, one of the most important issues Mr Medvedev and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev are set to discuss is the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and international cooperation in the Caspian region among other international issues.

A Kremlin source told Ria Novosti that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is a very “complicated” one though it is in a “quenched condition.”

“Though insignificant, there is some progress,” said the source, adding that the parties and mediators manage to continue the political settlement of the process.

Asked whether the recently signed defense pact between Armenia and Russia will be discussed during the visit, the source said that the most important issue isn’t the military base in Gyumri but rather the Nagorno Karabakh conlflict.

Commenting on Azerbaijani reactions to the extension of the contract that regulates the deploymentof the Gyumri military base, the source also said that the document isn’t about military-technical cooperation between Armenia and Russia but rather about the protection of the border.

“We are not saying that we will defend them [Armenians] over Azerbaijani. The reactions in Azerbaijan are various. I do not think that those who are aware of the real situation are concerned very much; it is something else as far as the opposition is concerned. We don’t worry about it.”

Mr Prikhodko said a boundary treaty and an intergovernmental agreement on rational use and protection of water resources of the Samur boundary river are also expected to be signed between Russia and Azerbaijan at the end of the visit.

He also said the boundary treaty would specify the state borders of Russia and Azerbaijan, adding that Azerbaijan signs first such agreement with Russia. Regarding the intergovernmental agreement, Sergei Prikhodko noted that this document considers establishing a Russian-Azerbaijan intergovernmental commission, which will regulate use of water resources of Samur River on the parity basis.

"These documents will be a basis for further development of the strategic partnership relations between the countries and will contribute to the security and stability in the Caucasus," said he, adding economic and trade cooperation would also be on the focus of attention during the visit.

Sergei Prikhodko also elaborated on the visit program of the Russian President. He said on the first day of the visit Dmitry Medvedev will visit former Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev's grave in the Honor Alley and Martyrs Alley. Today Russian President will attend the official dinner that will be given on behalf of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The talks will be first held on the presidential level, later the talks will continue with the participation of the delegations. Documents will be signed following the discussions. SOCAR and Gazprom are expected to sign an additional agreement to the contract on increasing natural gas supplies in 2011-2012.