Status of Azerbaijanis in Russia tops agenda

"The issue relating to the status of Azerbaijanis living in Russia will be put on discussion at the next meeting of the Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation commission to be held in Moscow during the last ten days of May." The First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, also the commission co-chairman, Abbas Abbassov has told Azernews that the Azerbaijani side wants to sign a special document on the status of Azerbaijani nationals in Russia with a view to ensuring their security, though the Russian government sees no need for discussion of the issue since a law on expatriates has been adopted in the country. He added that the issue has already been included in the meeting agenda. According to him, the meeting will also discuss a number of issues relating to bilateral economic co-operation.
Abbas Abbasov pointed out that the intergovernmental economic commission meeting initially scheduled for May 15-19 has been put off to May 19-20 due to the heavy workload of Russian co-chairman of the commission, also Deputy Prime Minister Khristenko.
Russian debt for Qabala
The Azerbaijan-Russian intergovernmental economic commission meeting agenda includes issues relating to the development of relations in the spheres of health, education and culture, as well as outstanding arrears for the use of the Qabala Analytical Information Centre (AIC). Azerbaijani First Deputy Prime Minister Abbas Abbasov has told AssA-Irada that Russia owes $13.2m to Azerbaijan for operation of the centre. Rental charges make up $7m of this sum, which will be paid on May 12-13 as agreed. Stressing that he and Russian Finance Minister Kudrin have talked  over payment of the remaining part of the debt, Abbas Abbasov expressed hope that the issue will be finally settled at the commission's meeting.