U.S. top officials to discuss reforms and security cooperation in Baku

Democratic and economic reforms and security cooperation are important topics that the United States periodically discusses with the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani government, the U.S. First Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg said after arriving in Baku.

"This is a good opportunity to strengthen cooperation between our countries in these spheres and we are here today to continue our efforts in establishing a tolerant society," Steinberg said.

Steinberg said that the U.S. delegation will discuss with President Aliyev the anti-corruption policies pursued by him, which is a positive trend.

The enlarged meeting of the Anti-Corruption Committee was held under the chairmanship of the Presidential Administration head Ramiz Mehdiyev on Jan. 27, 2011 in accordance with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's order.

"We consider this fight a positive step and during the visit to Baku, will talk about how to establish a strong civil society," he said.

Steinberg said that the U.S. delegation will also discuss issues of Azerbaijan's economy in Baku, which is based not only on the energy sector.

"We wish Azerbaijan successes in the field of energy and diversification of supply routes of its gas," he said.

Steinberg arrived in Baku from Tbilisi, prior to it he visited Yerevan. Steinberg is accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon during his regional tour.

U.S. senior officials visited Azerbaijan last summer. Then-Pentagon Chief Robert Gates and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Baku.


/Trend/