Azernews.Az

The United States has "deep and sustainable" interest in the well-being and security of Azerbaijan and its South Caucasus neighbors, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte has said.
He told a news conference on a visit to Baku on Thursday that he had come to Azerbaijan with a simple message, which is to reaffirm the intention to strengthen relations between the two countries in the spirit of friendship.
"We share key interests and closely cooperate on various important issues," Negroponte said.
He said the U.S. and Azerbaijan were working in partnership to boost regional and global stability.
"American and Azerbaijani soldiers are serving side by side in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. government and people highly appreciate the contribution made by Azerbaijan to bolstering security. We will continue working to further our security cooperation as well as assistance in ongoing reforms in Azerbaijan`s defense system, including that provided within NATO`s Individual Partnership Plan (IPAP)."
Touching on strategic energy projects, the deputy secretary said he had visited the Sangachal oil terminal near Baku on Wednesday and witnessed firsthand how much Southern Corridor projects are bolstering energy security in Europe and beyond.
The Southern Corridor aims to connect gas supplies in Azerbaijan and the Caspian basin, as well as Iraq, with Turkey and other European markets.
The corridor aims to connect gas supplies in Azerbaijan and the Caspian Basin, as well as Iraq, with Turkey and European markets.
"Our partnership covering the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil and South Caucasus gas pipeline projects further deepens at a time we are focusing our attention on the Turkey-Greece-Italy and NABUCCO pipelines. Our partnership is also strengthening in the backdrop of expanding transit opportunities and diversification of energy supplies to Europe and world markets," Negroponte said.
The BTC main oil export pipeline pumps Azerbaijan`s crude produced at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) fields, while South Caucasus Pipeline is a section of a major conduit exporting gas produced from Azerbaijan`s biggest offshore field Shahdaniz.
Negroponte went on to say that the United States acknowledged the fact the Azerbaijani government has assumed a commitment to hold a fair presidential election.
"The October 15 poll is an important opportunity for Azerbaijan to demonstrate its commitment to democratic reform by holding an election that will be deemed by the Azerbaijani public and international community as free, fair and transparent," he said.
Negroponte emphasized that democratic changes and tangible progress in democratic development has been achieved in Azerbaijan. He also lauded rampant economic development in the country, but said some problems in this area are yet to be resolved.
He also delivered a message to Russia, apparently referring to its recent military incursion in Georgia.
"The developments ongoing now are consistent neither with the policies nor principles of the 21st century," he said, stressing the importance of honoring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations.
Negroponte said cooperation between Armenia and Turkey was important for materializing Ankara`s recent proposal to establish a union called the Caucasus Peace and Cooperation Platform that could be joined by Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, and Georgia.
"But I think there are some other countries in the region that could contribute to the process. In particular, Azerbaijan and Armenia [the two South Caucasus republics facing a long-standing conflict] are playing a tremendous role in this. In any case, if the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict is settled, both countries would fully realize their existing potential," he said, adding that the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the peace process could serve as a body giving an incentive to this process.
Negroponte noted that the U.S. supports the territorial integrity of three South Caucasus states - Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.
"In these conditions, the U.S. is seeking a negotiated solution to the Garabagh conflict more than ever before," he said.
Negroponte started his three-day visit to Baku on Wednesday. On the following day, he met with President Ilham Aliyev to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, official sources said.