You're reading: Medvedev: Russia, Azerbaijan want to deepen strategic partnership

Moscow - President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow and Baku want to deepen strategic relations.

"I am happy to make special mention of the mutual desire to further deepen the relations of strategic partnership which have evolved over these years into an important factor of stability and security in the Caucasus and in the Caspian region," Medvedev said in a message of greetings to Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s state independence.

"Azerbaijan is developing dynamically, scoring impressive economic and social successes, and strengthening its foreign-policy positions in the region and in the world," Medvedev writes, according to the Kremlin press service.

Medvedev also conveyed his respect for the "national leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, who did a great deal to form the foundations of a modern and democratic state and strengthen the groundwork of traditional friendship, good-neighborly relations and mutually advantageous cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan."

"A successful political dialogue and the implementation of the agreements reached in the trade, economic, investment, humanitarian and other spheres, will continue promoting diversified bilateral cooperation in the interests of our two nations," Medvedev said.