Azerbaijan, Baku, June 7 / Trend, A.Gasimova /
The U.S. President Barack Obama in a letter handed by the U.S. Defense Minister Robert Gates to President Ilham Aliyev today thanked Azerbaijan's leader for support in Afghanistan and said he wants to "broaden and deepen" U.S. ties with Azerbaijan.
"The United States recognizes Azerbaijan's important contributions to regional and international security," wrote in the letter published by the Reuters Agency. "It is my hope that we will be able to broaden and deepen our relationship in the months and years ahead," Obama wrote.
Obama praised Azerbaijan's commitment to efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, mediated by the United States, Russia and France, and warned against using force. "I believe that a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is essential for the long-term stability of the South Caucasus region, and support for this outcome will remain a priority for the United States."
Obama praised Azerbaijan for sending military personnel to serve in Afghanistan and opening its land and air space to help resupply U.S. and NATO forces there.
"Azerbaijan's leadership in the development for a Southern Corridor for energy has also increased regional prosperity and enhanced global energy security," Obama wrote.