OREANDA-NEWS. July 3, 2008. After private talks between the heads of state, the talks continued with the participation of the delegations of the two countries.

Following their talks the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan signed a Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

In this document Russia and Azerbaijan confirm their position on the unacceptability of forcible change of internationally recognised borders, declare their readiness to strengthen cooperation in ensuring security in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region, and stress the importance of an accelerated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The parties stressed that they consider priority tasks to be strengthening the central role of the UN in international affairs and increasing its effectiveness with respect to new threats and challenges to international law. The parties also stated their intention to strengthen cooperation within the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe and other organisations and forums, both universal and regional ones.

Moscow and Baku also vowed to enhance the effectiveness of the Commonwealth of Independent States in articulating timely solutions to common problems and challenges.

Russia and Azerbaijan declared their intention to strengthen and expand military and military-technical cooperation, the Declaration states.

In addition, Russia and Azerbaijan call on the Caspian states to reach an accelerated settlement on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

The following documents were signed in the presence of the heads of state: an agreement between the foreign ministries on cooperation in the field of archives and a memorandum between the ministries of internal affairs on cooperation in protecting transit cargo.

Leaders of the Federal Customs Service of Russia and the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan signed an agreement on cooperation in combating customs violations. A memorandum between the Federal Agency for State Property Management of Russia and the State Committee for Property Management of Azerbaijan was concluded on cooperation in the field of state property privatization and management.

After the talks the two presidents made statements to the press.