July 3, 2008 - 20:27 AMT
Russia, Azerbaijan to strengthen military and technical cooperation
Strategic partners Russia and Azerbaijan will continue developing their equal, mutually advantageous and constructive relations in a multifaceted way, says the Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation that was signed by the countries' presidents during Dmitry Medvedev's official visit to Azerbaijan.

Russia and Azerbaijan intend to extend and broaden their political dialogue at various levels across the entire spectrum of their bilateral relations, and international and regional issues in which they have a mutual interest.

The Declaration stresses the importance of an accelerated settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the basis of universally recognized norms and principles of international law and, above all, the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of state borders, as well as the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and OSCE decisions.

Russia and Azerbaijan also called on Caspian Sea states to reach an accelerated resolution to the problem of the legal status of the Caspian.

Dmitry Medvedev expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of talks with the President of Azerbaijan, calling them an important stage in the development of their bilateral relations, Kremlin.ru reports.