Aliyev and Putin Discuss Peace, Trade in Baku Talks

Azerbaijan's Aliyev met the Russian president Vladimir Putin for talks in Baku.

The presidents of the two countries are set to discuss trade and economic relations, humanitarian cooperation as well as the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Vladimir Putin told his Azeri counterpart Russia would be glad to assist in brokering a peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan.

"If we can do something to sign a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, bring the matter to delimitation, demarcation of the border, unblock the relevant areas in logistics and the economy - we would be very happy about that," Putin told Aliyev.

"Of course, after my visit to Azerbaijan, I will contact Prime Minister Pashinyan and tell him about the results of our negotiations," Putin added.

Relations between Baku and Yerevan have remained tense since 1991, after the Armenian military occupied Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and visiting Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues, including energy cooperation.

In a joint statement to reporters in Baku, Aliyev said a focus of the two presidents' discussions had been about development of gas and electricity sectors.

Putin spoke of joint production of modern tankers to grow the delivery of petrochemical products to global markets.

The European Union and Ukraine have asked Azerbaijan in June to facilitate discussions with Russia regarding a gas transit deal that is set to expire at the end of this year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin who is in Baku on a two days state visit, paid tribute to the late Heydar Aliyev, first President of post-Soviet Azerbaijan and father of incumbent leader, Ilham Aliyev.

Putin also laid a wreath at the Eternal flame memorial devoted to the martyrs, the fallen Azerbaijani soldiers.