In April, we traditionally celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations was signed on April 4, 1992. It is not a long term if we take the past 27 years in historical terms. But our countries have been able to work together to strengthen the foundations of cooperation and expand bilateral relations with mutual advantageous practical content over the years.

Axar.az reports that, Russian Foreign Ministry official representative Maria Zakharova told this to ONA news:

"Today, Russia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners in the political, trade-economic, humanitarian and other areas. Relations between Moscow and Baku are based on the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, true respect for mutual interests, preservation and development of friendly and good neighborhood traditions. Open and confidential dialogue between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gives a powerful stimulus to the strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

Russia and Azerbaijan also closely cooperate in cultural, humanitarian and educational fields. There are about 11,000 Azerbaijani students studying in Russia. About 1,000 of their education granted by government. Every year, more than 200 Azerbaijani citizens are granted a scholarship."

Of course, there are also problematic issues in our bilateral agenda, as it is known that even the relations between the nearest states have not been insured. One of them is regular incidents in which Armenian origin Russian citizens are not allowed to Azerbaijan. We believe that this problem will be solved on the basis of mutual understanding. However, I repeat that the overall course of the Russian-Azerbaijani relations is very good - Mrs.Zakharova added.

"We understand how painful the Karabakh issue is for Azerbaijan. We are eager to bring peace and stability to our neighborhood. Therefore, Russia has always played an active role in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and will continue to do so. Just 25 years ago - in May 1994, an agreement was reached on the cease-fire with the direct mediation of the Russian Federation which stopped blood shedding in the region. One of the important stages in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the adoption of the Moscow Declaration in 2008. The Moscow Declaration is the first and only document that, signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. The document explicitly expresses the aspects' intention to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of the principles and norms of international law and ensure stability and security in the region. Large-scale armed clashes in April 2016 were stopped by the agreement reached by Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian Chiefs of Staff in Moscow. Since then, there has been relative calm on the border and contact line."

She stressed out that - assistance to the sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement is one of the important foreign policy priorities of the Russian foreign policy concept. This gives particular importance to the mediation activities that are being carried out, and determines the focus on the outcomes. We work closely with other OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries.

"We welcome the constructive approach that has been reached in the negotiations. We will provide the necessary assistance to the parties in implementing the ideas reached in the Austrian capital Vienna. However, as the presidents of the co-chairing countries repeatedly point out, the responsibility for putting an end to the conflict lies with the conflicting sides. There is a basis for that. The main thing is to demonstrate political will."