Azernews.Az

The relations between the U.S. and Azerbaijan are strong, US Ambassador Richard Morningstar told reporters in Baku.

"We are working together on issues like regional stability, energy security, democracy, human rights, and counter-terrorism," Morningstar said. "My goal is to further enhance the relationship between the U.S. and Azerbaijan."

He said he has paid 20 visits to Azerbaijan before arriving in the country in the capacity of ambassador in late August.

"I have been very busy since my arrival. I had an opportunity to meet with Azerbaijani officials, including Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov," the diplomat said.

Asked about the pardon of military officer Ramil Safarov, who was extradited to his home country after serving part of his life sentence in Hungary for killing an Armenian officer in Budapest in 2004, Morningstar said he stands by the statements of the US Department of State.

"My concern is that it does not contribute to defusing tension in the region," he said. "We hope that we can continue the constructive process on Nagorno-Karabakh."

Ramil Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan on August 31. The same day, he was pardoned under an order of President Ilham Aliyev.

Morningstar said it is important that Azerbaijan and Armenia continue working with the mediating OSCE Minsk Group -- co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France -- to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "As a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the U.S. will work with the other co-chairs, Azerbaijan and Armenia in this regard," he said.

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia emerged in 1988 when Armenia leveled territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a brutal war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of the neighboring country's territory, including the Nagorno Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

A fragile ceasefire was signed in 1994. The Minsk Group-brokered negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.