Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 15 / Trend S. Agayeva /
Celebratory events were held on the opening of the honorary Azerbaijani consulate in New Mexico this week. George Friedman, a renowned political analyst and the founder of the Stratfor, addressed the event, the Azerbaijani General Consulate in Los Angeles reported.
The presentation was organized jointly with the Santa Fe Council on Foreign Relations.
Friedman emphasized the geostrategic importance of Azerbaijan for U.S. national interests, the country's contribution to energy security of Europe, as well as the success of the balanced, pragmatic approach of official Baku to strengthen the Azerbaijani statehood. Friedman said that independent development and sovereignty are key priorities for Azerbaijan. It makes Azerbaijan, along with Turkey, a reliable regional partner. Expressing regret at Washington's poor attention to the region, he stressed the importance of building a more clear-cut U.S. foreign policy.
Consul General Elin Suleymanov addressed an official reception in honor of the appointment of Emmett Richard Art MacAfee as the honorary consul of Azerbaijan, which was conducted with the support of the Consulate General in Los Angeles. MacAfee expressed his gratitude to the country's leadership for its confidence and spoke about his years spent in Azerbaijan.
During the visit, Suleymanov, Vice Consul Ramil Gurbanov and MacAfee met with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Santa Fe Mayor David Coss. During the meetings, MacAfee presented his interlocutors with copies of his consular patent and hoped that his appointment will contribute to enhancing bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the United States.
Heading to North Korea on an emergency visit as the U.S special envoy, Richardson stressed the importance of an active approach to diplomacy to resolve the crisis and potentially explosive situations in the world. Richardson, who served as energy minister in the administration of President Bill Clinton, shared his memories about the trips to Azerbaijan and meetings with Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev. After thanking the governor for his contribution to the Azerbaijani-U.S. cooperation on the development of Caspian energy resources, Azerbaijani diplomats have presented him the publication "Wealth of Azerbaijan," dedicated to the activity of the State Oil Fund of the Azerbaijani Republic.
MacAfee was appointed upon Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's decree on Oct. 25. New Mexico is one of 13 states included in the consular district of the Azerbaijani Consulate General in Los Angeles.