Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly John Hambrick, who was on a visit to Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, has voiced support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

During his meeting with Interior Minister Ramil Usubov, he said the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be solved within Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity.

Hambrick also expressed the interest of Nevada in maintaining trade and economic cooperation with Azerbaijan.

Usubov, in turn, emphasized that Azerbaijan attached great importance to developing relations with the U.S. in all areas.

“President Ilham Aliyev’s participation in the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, and his meetings and talks with senior U.S. officials will contribute to the deepening of our bilateral cooperation,” he said.

The minister highlighted Azerbaijan’s role in fighting against international terrorism as part of a U.S.-led international coalition.

Usubov said Azerbaijan suffered from terrorism and transnational organized crime, adding that more than 2,000 Azerbaijanis were killed in terrorist attacks organized by the Armenian special services in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

During the visit the American delegation also met Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev, who discussed issues on mutual interests.

The minister said that the U.S. and Azerbaijan have successful relations in security, fight against terrorism, as well as energy, logistics and other areas.

Informing the delegation about more than 200 American companies operating in Azerbaijan, Mustafayev stressed the U.S. has invested $10 billion in Azerbaijan economy.

He said the U.S. support energy projects realized by participation of Azerbaijan, including the “Southern Gas Corridor”.

Hambrick, for his part, noted the opportunities for economic cooperating between the two states, thus offering the visit of Nevada State Economic Development Department’s businessmen to Azerbaijan.

At the meeting between Rovnag Abdullayev, President of Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR and Hambrick, the sides talked about the cooperation with oil-gas companies of the two countries.

Abdullayev noted SOCAR and major U.S. oil-gas companies have long-term and effective cooperation, adding that the successful relations between the two countries also cover non-oil sector.

Emphasizing about the successful strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the U.S., SOCAR’s president said that such friendship ties also exist with Nevada state.

Abdullayev informed the guests about important projects realized by SOCAR and their successes.

He said Azerbaijan has favorable investment climate, stressing that the country provides good conditions for foreign companies within the framework of the country's national interests.

During the Baku visit, Nevada’s Speaker met with President Ilham Aliyev, as well as Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Parliament Ogtay Asadov, and Kamal Abdullayev, the State Counselor for multiculturalism, international and religious affairs.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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