Azerbaijan's top diplomat holds meetings in U.S.

Source: AzerNews

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov held several meetings during his official visit to the United States, which started on May 31.

Minister Mammadyarov met with the US President's Special Assistant and senior director for European affairs at the National Security Council, Karen Donfried.

The sides held discussions about the U.S.-Azerbaijan relations and touched on the cooperation in the frame of international organizations such as the UN and NATO.

Mammadyarov briefed the US official about the negotiations aiming to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and stressed that in order to achieve a solution, primarily Armenian armed forces must withdraw from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, in line with the requirements of the UN Security Council resolutions.

Donfried in turn said the US administration supports the efforts to find a just and peaceful settlement to the conflict and that the solution would be important in terms of further development of the region.

She went on to emphasize Azerbaijan's vital role in securing the region's energy security and expressed interest in further enhancing cooperation in that field.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 as a result of Armenia's territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Unleashing a lengthy war with its South Caucasus neighbor, Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. Peace talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs representing the United States, Russia and France have been largely fruitless so far.

Later, Mammadyarov met with Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni on the sidelines of the annual Global Forum of American Jewish Committee. Discussions covered bilateral relations and regional issues. The two ministers also expressed satisfaction with the development of relations in many areas.

Also, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister held a meeting with the heads of leading U.S.-based research centers.

During the meeting he briefed them on the peace talks over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and shared his perspectives on Azerbaijan's regional role, its contributions to the European energy security, regional development projects as well as security issues. Mammadyarov touched upon the reforms that are being undertaken in various spheres in Azerbaijan and also spoke about the ways to further advance the US-Azerbaijan relations as well as the cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO.

Earlier, Mammadyarov met with US Secretary of State John Kerry and delivered a speech at the opening session of the American Jewish Committee forum.