US reaffirms importance of Azerbaijan

The Assistant US Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones has reaffirmed the continued US interest in the South Caucasus region, Azerbaijan in particular, during her meeting with President Aliyev on Sunday.

Mrs. Jones arrived in Baku as part of her visit to the Ukraine and the Caucasus.

After a welcoming ceremony, Mrs. Jones stated that the objective of her visit was to discuss issues relating to the Caspian Sea, development of bilateral economic relations, democratization, resolution to the Garabagh conflict, and Iran-related issues.

She added that it was her intention to emphasize how important Azerbaijan is to the United States.

Garabagh first

President Aliyev said the Upper Garabagh problem was the most important one on agenda and suggested that the parties start the discussion with that. The existence of this problem retards the economic development of the country, he said. Indicating that the USA has been co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group since 1997, President Aliyev said with some disappointment that no palpable results have been attained yet.

"Next year will see the end of international humanitarian assistance to Azeri refugees and it is not too difficult to understand how crucial solution to the problem is for us. The Minsk Group has actually stopped working and I would like to know what the US administration is going to undertake to resolve the problem", he said.

Mrs. Jones replied that the USA stands for a peace settlement to the conflict within the MG framework. She mentioned that the US co-chairman would soon be replaced. Recalling the progress achieved in the Key West talks, Mrs. Jones indicated that a lot depends on Azeri and Armenian Presidents who have to prepare their societies for a compromising solution to the conflict. For this, it is extremely important to prevent resumption of military action.

H. Aliyev said although the settlement issues were discussed in Paris and Key West, no major breakthrough was achieved and the parties simply declared their positions. He urged the United States not to be confined to observer’s role, but to actively broker negotiations. In response to Mrs. Jones' remark that Heydar Aliyev, taking advantage of his enormous authority, can convince people in his country of the necessity of a compromising solution to the conflict, the President said, "I don't want and cannot impose on our people something that hurts our national interests. The conflict can and must be resolved only with respect for the territorial integrity and inviolability of Azerbaijan's borders, on the basis of internationally-accepted principles".

Brokerage appeal

Speaking of the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline, the parties underscored the importance of including Kazakhstan into the project. Mrs. Jones recommended that the head of SOCAR's foreign investment section Valeh Alasgarov hold talks in Kazakhstan in this regard. President Aliyev agreed to the suggestion, saying that US-Kazakh negotiations could also be useful.

He then mentioned that Azerbaijan maintains normal relations with Kazakhstan and has recently opened ferry-boat communication with Aktau. At the present time, Kazakhstan transports around 3 million tons of oil a year via Azerbaijan.

"You have to help us find out how much oil Kazakhstan intends to transport through the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline", the President said.

Iran condemned

In regard to the Caspian status issue, the head of state mentioned that the positions of certain littoral countries, Turkmenistan and Iran in particular, do not meet international legal norms. Iran, reluctant to follow these norms, wants to divide the Caspian into 5 equal parts.

Mrs. Jones described Iran's recent actions as provocative. The USA stands for the division of the Caspian with a median line, she said.

Bilateral ties

Focusing on bilateral economic relations, Mrs. Jones said Azeri Finance Minister Avaz Alakbarov was expected to visit the USA on October 1. During the visit, the minister will try to find out what impedes foreign investment inflow in Azerbaijan. "We would like an improved investment concept to be prepared", she said.

President Aliyev highlighted that Azerbaijan was interested in cooperating with companies and business people who not only invest in the country, but also create jobs and contribute to income generation. He then asked the US visitor to take this principle into account.

On the following day, the US delegation was received by Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev. Speaking highly of the visit outcomes, the Azeri minister said it would contribute to the solution of a number of regional problems.

The parties exchanged views on ways of resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict, legal status of the Caspian, cooperation between Azerbaijan and international organizations, and US-Azeri relations, MFA said Monday.

Conclusions

In her news briefing at the Bina Airport of Baku before leaving for Tbilisi on Monday, the US diplomat spoke of the meetings held in Baku. She said the parties had focused on the settlement to the Garabagh conflict, development of Caspian hydrocarbon resources, Iran's recent steps, democratization, human rights, situation with political prisoners, freedoms of speech and press, and Azerbaijan's negotiations with the IMF and WB.

Mrs. Jones said USA supports Azerbaijan's operations in the Caspian, as well as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and "Shah-Daniz" projects.

According to her, the United States approves of the economic reforms underway in Azerbaijan and improved business and investment environment in the country. Mrs. Jones said the bilateral working group on economic cooperation would meet in the USA in October. Azerbaijan will be represented by finance minister Avaz Alakbarov.

Concerning her country's attitude towards Azeri-Turkish military cooperation, Mrs. Jones said Turkey is a Nato ally of the US.

"We welcome expansion of Turkey's relations with Caucasus nations. Moreover, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia are involved in the BTC Main Export Pipeline and Shah-Daniz projects", she said.

Asked if Azerbaijan could rely on US support in case of intrusion, the US dignitary said: "We, first of all, provide political support. The US is already helping Azeri customs and border troops in thwarting the transit of mass destruction weapons". She said USA is satisfied with the level of cooperation with Azerbaijan in this area and intends to provide further support.Speaking highly of the level of current economic relations, the US visitor pointed out the need for repealing the unfair Section 907 and said that the Bush Administration is working toward its abolition.

Touching upon the human rights situation in the country, Mrs. Jones said Azerbaijan's membership in the COE compels it to observe the commitments it has undertaken.

Mrs. Jones added that the US co-chair in the OSCE Minsk Group Carey Cavanaugh would be soon replaced by the US ambassador to Moldova Rudolph Paranaud.