Aliyev And Putin Sign Declaration Of Principles

Moscow, 6 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- The presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia -- Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin -- signed a declaration setting out the principles of their countries' bilateral relations in Moscow today.

During the talks in the Kremlin Aliyev reaffirmed the Azerbaijani leadership's loyalty to its strategic partnership with Russia.

The two presidents discussed cooperation in fighting terrorism, Russia's role in the settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region as well as boosting Russian-Azerbaijani trade, economic, and military ties. Four other bilateral cooperation accords were also signed today on trade, economic, humanitarian, and security affairs.

Aliyev also met today with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. The main topic of the talks was the expansion of military and military technical cooperation of the two countries.