Matthew Bryza: Azerbaijan established itself as a key partner of United States

Azerbaijan has established itself as a key partner of the United States, said Matthew Bryza, ex-co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, who has been nominated as the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, during his speech at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Senate reported.

"Azerbaijan has provided critical cooperation on counterterrorism, working closely with us on a range of important initiatives", Bryza said. He also informed the senators about Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan is an important partner of the United States. Located at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, and bordering Iran, Azerbaijan is a secular state with a Muslim-majority population, rich history, and religious and ethnic diversity. Azerbaijan's major hydrocarbon resources have driven its economic growth at one of the fastest rates in the world in recent years", said Bryza.

According to him, the day after the September 11 events, Azerbaijan immediately offered US unlimited overflights of Azerbaijan for U.S. military aircraft. Today, Azerbaijan continues to provide valuable overflight, refuelling, and landing rights for U.S. and coalition aircraft bound for Afghanistan.

"Azerbaijan is also an important partner in the Northern Distribution Network, allowing the United States to transit nonlethal goods through its territory en route to Afghanistan. Azerbaijan has also contributed troops to U.S. and coalition military operations in Afghanistan, as well as Kosovo and Iraq."

"I also look forward, if confirmed, to helping advance a peaceful Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, " said Bryza.

"There can be no military solution to this long-standing conflict; rather, negotiation and dialogue hold the key to resolving this issue and bringing peace and stability to the Caucasus region. I am proud of the vibrant partnership my Russian and French counterparts and I developed as Co-Chairs of the OSCE's Minsk Group and the work we did together to try and bring Azerbaijan and Armenia closer to a negotiated solution based on the principles contained in the Helsinki Final Act, specifically those related to refraining from the threat or use of force, the territorial integrity of States, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples. If confirmed, I will support my successor as U.S. Co-Chair, Ambassador Robert Bradtke, and his two Minsk Group colleagues in their efforts to pursue an agreed resolution between the two countries", Bryza noted.


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