Relations between azerbaijan and Russia do not depend on external factors, including Baku` s aspiration for strategic partnership with Washington, Ilham Aliyev assured, speaking before the US Foreign Affiars council in Washington.
We are for establishing mutually beneficial and positive relations with our friends and partners, said Aliyev speaking in English. These relations should be based upon mutual respect and non-intervention in each others policies.
President highly appreciated the current level of political, trade and economic relations with Russia. He reminded that the constant exchange of visits is continuing and trade levels are growing, commenting on the question that a new US-Russian competition is unleashing in the post-soviet area, he said that Azerbaijan is not the right place for competition we only have space for cooperation, not confrontation.
The president stressed that during his talks with G. Bush and other high level US officials he is planning to make emphasis on bilateral cooperation in different areas. The Nagorno-Karabakh problem he identified as one of the most vital and painful matters to be discussed.
Speaking about the Iranian nuclear crisis, Aliyev assured that Azerbaijan is for peaceful resolution of this conflict and reminded that Azerbaijan and Iran have signed a treaty preventing any aggression from each other, president said.