Azerbaijan, Baku Apr. 18 /Trend E.Mehdiyev/
It is not so significant for the U.S who will be elected as the president. The main thing for the elections to be free and democratic, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Thomas Melia said at a press conference in Baku on Thursday.
He said that his opinion on presidential elections in Azerbaijan was distorted by several media outlets.
"The US and Azerbaijan are cooperating in many fields," he said. "Azerbaijan remains an important partner of the US. We are in Azerbaijan as friends to help in case of necessity."
"The US and Azerbaijan cooperate in three spheres - energy, democracy and security", Melia said.
"Democracy, human rights, freedom of speech were discussed at the meetings held in Azerbaijan this week," he said. "The government was urged to take actions in this regard."
"We urge the government to broaden the dialogue with Azerbaijani opposition for the conditions to be created at the upcoming elections for free activity of opposition parties", Melia said.
Highly appreciating the Azerbaijani government's fight against curruption, Melia said that the "ASAN" service centers are serving to decrease the corruption cases.
