Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Dmitry Medvedev of Russia met at the Grand Hotel Polyana in Sochi.
Prior to the meeting, the Heads of State posed for photographs.
President Medvedev said:
"Dear Ilham Heydarovich,
I cordially welcome you. I`m pleased that the tradition of our winter meetings continues. This is a good opportunity to exchange views on the development of the Russia-Azerbaijan cooperation, discuss our future and evaluate what happened in the past. We have achieved certain results, and, in my opinion, these are good results. Several very important measures have been taken in the economic and humanitarian fields. Of course, we have to look at the situation in our region. We are the states which are strongly bound up with Caucasus, and we are not indifferent to what happens in the Caucasian region, just like what happens in several other adjacent regions.
Of course, our trilateral meeting with the participation of the Armenian President is also of great importance. Over the last few years we have had quite a large number of such meetings. In some moments we have made steps forwards, and in some moments, probably, there are still essential challenges. However, my opinion is that this dialogue is fruitful, and I hope that these contacts will continue in the future.
Once again I welcome you to Sochi at this winter time. I hope you will not only interact, but also find time to have a rest."
President Aliyev said:
"Thank you very much, Dmitry Anatolyevich, for your invitation to visit Sochi.
Actually, this is a very good tradition already. It provides an opportunity to see and interact with each other. Our meetings are quite intensive in nature, we met last year in Moscow. This reflects the character and the spirit of the relations between our states, as well as the dynamism, constant consultations and the increasing potential of our multi-faceted mutual cooperation.
I agree that last year was very successful for our mutual affairs: we strengthened our political cooperation, we put forward new initiatives, the growth in our trade is calculated in tens of percents, our structure is being improved. We have very positive dynamics in a whole spectrum of our bilateral relations. And this makes us very happy. We attach very great importance to our cooperation with Russia. We regard Russia our strategic partner, and this was strengthened by greater practical work in 2011.
I would also like to thank you for continuing efforts to find a solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We have had a large number of meetings. And, as you pointed out, there have been promising moments, and also moments which added to our pessimism. However, the process is continuing, and the fact that you are continuing your efforts adds to our optimism. Azerbaijan is interested in soonest possible settlement of this conflict so that peace comes to the region.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Russia for supporting Azerbaijan`s bid to join the UN Security Council."
Dmitry Medvedev: "I congratulate you once again."
Ilham Aliyev: "Thank you very much. The support was very effective, practical, sincere, and we - both the leadership and the people of Azerbaijan - are grateful to you for such an attitude towards us. And I want to assure you that in the next two years we will work in a close cooperation with you in the Security Council, and will try to justify the hopes of all the 155 countries which supported us.
Thank you once again for this opportunity, and I hope the year 2012 will also be a success in terms of our mutual affairs."
Dmitry Medvedev: "This is our hope too."

AzerTAc