The president expressed confidence that the mayor's visit "will contribute to new achievements in relations in the economic and humanitarian spheres." "Russia is Azerbaijan's strategic partner, and we are true to it." Luzhkov, in his turn, noted active and efficient work of the Moscow-Azerbaijan economic commission. He specifically pointed out to the commission's activity in the humanitarian sphere, where "we have qualitative results, which create an atmosphere of interaction."
He also stressed a good level of the sides' relations established in the spheres of culture, education and healthcare. In particular, in his words, 4,500 official registered Azeri nationals receive treatment in Moscow clinics.
At the same time, the Moscow mayor said that the potential of trade-economic interaction of Azerbaijan and Russia, in particular Moscow, is not used to the full.
"Azeri-Russian trade turnover at $500 million is somewhat too little," he said, adding that Russia-Belarus trade turnover was $17 billion in 2003, of which 60% falls, in Luzhkov's words, on Russia."
To intensify trade-economic relations, he suggested developing cooperation of the two countries' profile enterprises, which "operate in the branches of industry where we have complications in connection with the latest transformations of former USSR."
In this connection, Mr. Luzhkov enumerated the list of chemical industry products that Moscow needs and whose production "can be arranged very fast in Azerbaijan" through joint investments.
Luzhkov said that there are proposals on establishing cooperation in the sphere of wind power engineering. It is suggested that the first windmill with a capacity of 30-60 kW be installed in Azerbaijan. There are also prospects for cooperation in candy manufacture, in the oil and gas spheres, said the Moscow mayor.
He emphasized in this connection the necessity to change tariffs on railroad transportation and customs duties.
Summing up the meeting, the Azeri president said that "the economic interest of the sides dictates that these projects which can be successfully implemented should be realized."
He said he will give relevant instructions to the country's government and corresponding ministries and departments of Azerbaijan.
After the negotiations, Ilkham Aliyev and Yuri Luzhkov visited the Heydar Aliyev Fund recently created in Azerbaijan. The Azeri president and the Moscow mayor examined a gallery with photographs about the late president's life.
