Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 18
Trend:
Some US circles' turning the issues on Azerbaijan into a topic of public discussion and their anti-Azerbaijan activity doesn't correspond to the spirit of the two countries' relations that are of a strategic nature, said Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
He made the remarks Sept. 18 at a meeting with Evelyn Farkas, the US deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, who is on a trip to Azerbaijan, said the country's Foreign Ministry.
Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan supports the efforts taken by international community in the fight against terrorism and helps multilaterally and bilaterally to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He added that peacekeeping forces of Azerbaijan are successfully serving in Afghanistan. The minister also said the cooperation in energy, fighting terrorism, defense, and security should be complementary to political ties.
Touching upon regional issues, the Azerbaijani minister said the preservation of independence, stability, and security of the country and the continuation of successful development are of priority.
Talking about such projects as Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, TANAP and TAP that are being implemented at the initiative and with participation of Azerbaijan, Mammadyarov said that these projects will change the transport and energy view of the region.
Farkas, for her part, said the US and Azerbaijan have strategic partnership relations, adding that the two countries' interests coincide in energy security, peacekeeping operations and combating terrorism.
She noted that the US praises the transit opportunities created by Azerbaijan and the use of its air space for carrying out operations in Afghanistan.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the process of settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the issues of mutual interest.