An informal meeting of the CIS heads of state was held in Moscow.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the meeting.

President Ilham Aliyev arrived at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence to attend the informal meeting of the CIS heads of state.

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin greeted President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The CIS heads of state posed together for photographs.

Speakers at the event included President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Moldova Igor Dodon, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.

Addressing the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, first of all, I would like to thank you for the invitation. It is always a great pleasure to be in Russia, in Moscow. I would like to congratulate you on the successful completion of the chairmanship in the CIS.

As you mentioned, a lot has been done this year to facilitate integration processes in the CIS, and the growing volume of trade is an indicator not only of the economic recovery and stabilization of the economic situation, but also of the need for a further strengthening of friendly trade and economic relations. Business always responds very clearly to the processes taking place, and mutual investments and growth in trade largely depend on relations between countries. The positive trends we are observing in the CIS have certainly contributed to the fact that we are seeing activity in the trade and economic sphere. Russia plays a unifying role in the CIS. Under your leadership, Russia has achieved great successes in terms of social and economic development. Russia has a very high authority in the international arena and today plays one of the leading roles in international affairs. Stability has been ensured under your leadership. It is underpinned by civil accord. I think that no-one in Azerbaijan has any doubts that the Russian people will make the right choice in the upcoming presidential election. We know very well that the successful development of bilateral Russian-Azerbaijani relations is associated with your name. Today, these relations have reached a level of strategic partnership – as both sides characterize them – and have very positive dynamics towards growth.

It is impossible to achieve success without public and political stability. In recent years, we have seen enough of bloody events, clashes, dislike, inter-religious strife, inter-confessional contradictions, and ethnic conflicts. Therefore, the existing international panorama once again shows the correctness of the course you are implementing. Russia is a stabilization factor today. Of course, I want to say once again that as a close neighbor, friend and partner, we are naturally very interested in the processes taking place in Russia. Unfortunately, in many cases the norms of international law are not observed. They are sometimes flagrantly violated, thereby undermining the world order, the world order that was created after the Second World War. Your personal commitment to the norms of international law gives great hope to all countries that have suffered from violations of international law that justice will be restored.

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An official reception was hosted on behalf of President of Russia Vladimir Putin in honor of the CIS heads of state.