The trilateral format of Russia-Azerbaijan-Turkey cooperation can be formed in the near future, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting with the heads of the Russian media at the TASS Editors-in-Chief Club held the day before.
"And it is probably not a secret for anyone that a trilateral format of cooperation is already being formed de facto. It has not yet been formalized, there have been no meetings of foreign ministers, let alone presidents, but it is being formed. It is formed on the basis of common interests, pragmatism and similarity," he pointed out.
Aliyev noted the common features of the governance systems and values to which the three countries are committed. In this regard, he noted with satisfaction the trusting relationship between Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Both of them have spoken publicly about this. I think the day when we will formalize these relations is not far off. <...> As Azerbaijan is an ally of Russia and Turkey, the next step is kind of beckoning. It is not our business, but for our part, we have always worked on the rapprochement of interests of the two countries," the President stressed.
Aliyev called Tuesday's signing of the Declaration on allied cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan a historic achievement. "Because Azerbaijan has allied relations with two great countries, with two neighbors. I think no other country can boast of this. Let alone with a NATO member country and a country that heads the CSTO. This is actually an achievement," he pointed out.
The declaration on allied cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan was signed by the presidents of the two countries on Tuesday following talks in the Kremlin.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS