Baku hosted the fifth meeting of the Expert Council dedicated to "Cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan within the framework of multilateral projects and initiatives."

Bilateral relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, various issues of regional and global agenda were the major highlights of the meeting moderated by Farid Shafiyev, the Chairman of the Board of the Center of Analysis of International Relations.

Farid Shafiyev said the activity of the Expert Council, which has been operating since 2021, yielded positive results. He noted that projects and reports jointly prepared by the think tanks of the two countries contribute to mutual cooperation.

Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev noted that relations between the two countries are at a high level and characterised the Declaration on “Allied Interaction between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation” as a logical outcome of these consistent steps.

According to him, cooperation between our countries is also developing in the economic, humanitarian, and other spheres.

"High-level mutual understanding between the heads of the two states also has a big share."

Praising the Expert Council's activity, the head of the Presidential Department for Interregional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Igor Maslov, noted that in 2022, bilateral relations have entered a new stage and the agenda has expanded; moreover, it covers many issues of regional and global importance.

Pointing out the tangible results of the Expert Council meetings, Ambassador-at-Large of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, Elshad Iskandarov, noted that Azerbaijan-Russia relations are developing in positive dynamics in all directions, and drew attention to the importance of bilateral relations in the regional context.

For his part, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov said Russia is interested in peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus and is ready to contribute to the normalisation of relations between Baku and Yerevan.

Director-General of the Russian International Affairs Council, Ivan Timofeev, assessed the intergovernmental and interparliamentary relations between the two countries as satisfactory.

The Expert Council continued its work with panel sessions on "Priorities of Russia-Azerbaijan allied interaction" and "Topical formats and aspects of regional partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan".

In the end, an action plan for the next period was discussed, and a communiqué was adopted.