The Azerbaijan State News Agency

POLITICS

Peter Tase: “The United States must take a leadership role towards solving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict”

Peter Tase: “The United States must take a leadership role towards solving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict” Washington, October 29, AZERTAC.

Peter Tase, International Programs Assistant of Marquette University (WI) and International Relations expert gave an interview to Washington Bureau of AZERTAC following her recent visit to Azerbaijan.

- You recently attended Baku Humanitarian Forum. What are your general impressions about the forum itself and the capital of Azerbaijan?

-Azerbaijan is not only the birthplace of fire but also is the foundation of genuine patriotism, hardworking people, consolidated democratic government and has emerged as a nation with avant-garde architecture in Eurasia. Azerbaijan is a dynamic young nation with a vibrant capital city. Over the last two decades Baku has become a genuine metropolitan city at the heart of Eurasia, which rivals some of the best western European capitals; it has also adopted its own urban landmarks similar to the Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, with exclusive shops and restaurants just like the wind city. I am honored to be part of this prestigious Global Forum in which more than 600 former heads of state, politicians, Nobel laureates, scholars, journalists and diplomats attended from over 60 countries around the world. Azerbaijan is currently playing a vital role towards fostering intercultural dialogue, religious tolerance and promotion of peace and democratic values worldwide. There is no other country in the world like Azerbaijan that invests so much time and energy towards preserving global peace and stability by organizing such strategic forums which help us in resolving today’s most pressing issues. Over the last decade, the government of President Ilham Aliyev has always emphasized the religious tolerance and peaceful solution of current regional and global disputes and pending disagreements.

- Metaphorically speaking, what puts Azerbaijan on the map for you? In other words, what is, in your opinion, significant about Azerbaijan that will draw attention of an American to the Land of Fire?

-Azerbaijan, is home of the Paleolithic period, Azykh Cave is located in the territory of the Fuzuli district, which is considered to be the site of one of the most ancient proto-human habitations in Eurasia. In 2007 another ancient monument southwest of Baku, Gobustan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be an "outstanding universal value" for the quality and density of its rock art engravings.

The Government of President Aliyev has made great efforts to make Azerbaijan one of the most developed countries in Eurasia and has pursued a dynamic foreign policy that serves well to the economic and social development of the Caspian region. I must emphasize that the positive reforms set by the government of President Ilham Aliyev should serve as a perfect example and success story to those underdeveloped countries that aspire to reach high levels of economic development and eradicate poverty. My deep gratitude and appreciation goes to Mr. Aslan Aslanov, the Director General of the Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency (AZERTAC). This information agency has always played an important role towards the promotion of history, culture and government reforms of Azerbaijan. Quite frankly, my introduction to the Republic of Azerbaijan was through the employees and the website of AZERTAC.

- Azerbaijan is a fast developing economy. Although oil and gas is a driving force, it's also developing its non-oil sector. What is your outlook for Azerbaijan in a decade? What areas of economy, in your opinion, can or should develop and make it a regional hub?

-In 2006-2008, Azerbaijan was the fastest growing economy in the world. Contemporary architecture and cutting edge urban development nationwide will increase the development of tourism sector. Ancient and archeological sites, religious centers that are used for pilgrimages as well as beautiful landscape give Azerbaijan unparalleled advantages in order to further develop its tourism industry.

Research in Information Technology, satellite design and launching technology, defense industry, renewable energy projects and sustainable public works projects will continue to make Azerbaijan a leading nation towards the socio-economic development in the Caucasus region. In the next three years Azerbaijan is expected to inaugurate public works such as paved roads in every district and village nationwide. High quality food industry will also take a major focus in the next years.

- What should be done to enhance educational and cultural exchange between Azerbaijan and the United States?

-Washington is lagging behind towards fostering the university to university partnerships with Baku. In order to better understand the culture and society of Azerbaijan it is essential that universities establish centers of Azerbaijani Studies across the United States, just like we have well established academic centers that focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. The economic and attractive government reforms of Azerbaijan have received less to none international attention. We live in a multi-polar world and as result our universities must adapt to these new geopolitical trends and educate their students no only about the Americas but also about highly important countries such as Azerbaijan. The United States must adopt and encourage a National Policy of International Branch Campuses for its public and private universities in Azerbaijan.

Currently the United States has 76 Branch Campuses and their majority is located in the United Arab Emirates.

In the same vein, the implementation of Azerbaijani language and history programs in the US Universities, hosting guest professors from Baku is greatly needed in the US Universities. It is imperative for America’s young generations to understand that Azerbaijan has more than one million refugees and internally displaced people (IDP), including 250,000 Azerbaijanis who were expelled from Armenia, 700,000 Azerbaijanis who were expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh and seven districts of Azerbaijan, and refugees from wars in other countries. Currently Azerbaijan has been doing its best to improve the living standards of these people. Every year the administration of Azerbaijan resettles more than 20,000 IDPs, they have built 82 settlements and 40,000 families have been provided with flats or houses. The main stream media in the US never pays attention to the Caucasus and establishing various centers of Azerbaijani Studies in our country would greatly help foster bilateral cultural ties.

- Finally, U.S. and Azerbaijan are recognized as allies. How should Washington and Baku develop their ties to draw both nations’ closer?

-In 1992, the United States established its diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan, following its independence from the Soviet Union. Over the years Washington, has been committed to strengthening democracy and formation of an open market economy in Azerbaijan. The United States and Azerbaijan have promoted regional security, enhanced energy security, socio-economic development and strengthen political reforms. However, it is unfortunate that Secretary John Kerry has not yet conducted his first official visit as Secretary of State in Baku even though U.S. Ambassador Richard Morningstar announced his possible trip since March 19, 2014. Although Hillary Clinton paid an official visit to Baku in June 2012, it is important that Washington continues to have high level visits to Baku. Moreover, the United States must take a leadership role towards solving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict to ensure full integrity and bring peace on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan.

Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenian forces since the end of the war in 1994 and has been suffering from protracted warfare or sporadic armed clashes since that time.

The United States government must condemn the crimes against humanity such as Khojaly Massacre and honor its victims with a resolution in the U.S. Congress. The U.S. Department of State must call upon the community of nations to condemn the atrocities committed by the Armenian armed forces. Security partnership and energy security cooperation should further be enhanced between the two countries, and commercial ties must reach new levels every year.

Yusif Babanli

Special Correspondent

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi – eyewitness of French crimes in Vietnam

The wealth of the 1% just hit a record $44 trillion

Cambridge council orders removal of ‘poorest quality’ statue of Prince Philip

Release of the Press Service of the President

Harvard University removes human skin binding from book

AZAL's summer schedule includes over 50 cities worldwide

Moscow hosts 101st meeting of CIS Economic Council

Türkiye’s intelligence chief to meet members of US House of Representatives

‘A total of 46 enterprises will operate in Agro-Industrial Park in Lachin’

Some 53% of Bulgarian Internet users shop online, survey shows

Baku to host 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue

Menorca becomes a naval base for NATO fleet, the third in Spain after Rota and Cartagena.

Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people

Hikmet Hajiyev: COP29 will demonstrate Azerbaijan’s determination, diplomatic and political courage VIDEO

101st meeting of CIS Economic Council kicks off in Moscow

GUAM member states step up efforts to combat human trafficking and illegal migration

Scientists chronicle earliest stages of a supernova

Another 35 families relocated to Fuzuli city get house keys VIDEO

Magnitude 6 earthquake rocks southern Greece

Biden administration approves $60M to rebuild Baltimore Bridge

Alzheimer's may be able to spread to organ transplant patients, study suggests - as experts call for dementia screening for all donors

Azerbaijan’s three judokas vie for medals at Antalya Grand Slam 2024

One of military units holds command-staff exercise

China’s Phoenix TV channel airs interview with Azerbaijan’s presidential assistant VIDEO

Central Bank: Azerbaijan records $3 billion in foreign direct investments in 2023

Azerbaijani gymnasts to compete in 2024 FIG World Challenge Cup

Azerbaijan joins IAF Spring Meetings 2024

Azerbaijan draws $6.7 billion in FDI in 2023 VIDEO

Azerbaijani Ombudsperson issues statement on March 31 - Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis

Getting too little sleep linked to high blood pressure

China's internet sector sees steady growth in first two months

Türkiye and Azerbaijan collaborate on historical film production

Georgian PM highlights religious diversity as “one of main wealth” of the country

Azerbaijani oil price climbs above $89

Azerbaijan relocates 138 more residents to Fuzuli city VIDEO

Transit officials approve New York City traffic congestion fee

Azerbaijani weightlifters to fight for glory at 2024 IWF World Cup

Taha Ayhan: We want to share the story of the liberation of Shusha with the whole world

Hirshhorn at 50: ‘Revolutions’ offers an artistic journey through time, Arts innovations

Attacks in NYC transit jump a massive 50% as subway murders surge: stats

Protocol signed to implement Shusha OIC Youth Capital-2024 program

Pope appears in better health, praises Israeli and Arab fathers who both lost daughters in conflict

Latvian foreign minister resigns amid private flights controversy

Azerbaijan's Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population meets with UNDP Resident Representative

Rediscovered Raphael masterpiece to be exhibited in French Basilica

Draft law on Corsica`s autonomy adopted. MP Josepha Giacometti Piredda protests describing it as “shackles”

China’s CATL to cut its EV battery costs by up to 50% this year, heralding a price war

UN chief applauds Türkiye's Global Zero Waste Initiative, calls for end to waste cycle

Azerbaijani ambassador meets with representatives of Egyptian media outlets

Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 38 PKK/YPG terrorists over past week

Azerbaijani boxers claim 2 golds at Great Silk Way international tournament

Azerbaijani female boxers claim nine medals at Great Silk Way International Tournament-2024

From Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa

With 783 million people going hungry, a fifth of all food goes to waste, UN says

Trump leads Biden by 5 points in new national poll

Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee meets with Egyptian ambassador

Georgian Gov’t approves 2024-2025 climate change action plan

Guivami Rahimli: “…Azerbaijan’s aim is to transform the role of energy in international relations from fueling disagreements to oiling cooperation…”

Azerbaijani Ombudsperson meets with residents of Armenian origin in Khankendi

Seoul bus drivers go on general strike

Azerbaijan to pin hopes on seven female gymnasts at 35th Rhythmic Gymnastics International Grand Prix in France

Western Azerbaijan Community issues statement

Practical classes held with Military Institute’s cadets

Telescope shares clear image of Sagittarius A* black hole in Milky Way Galaxy

Artificial intelligence laboratory launched at Baku Higher Oil School for first time among higher education institutions in Azerbaijan

Election results confirm Bassirou Diomaye Faye's victory in Senegal's presidential race

Azerbaijani oil price declines in global markets

Oil prices surge in global markets

Moscow checks, discusses with Baku alleged arms deliveries to Kiev — MFA

Russian diplomat accuses France of intelligence operations in Caucasus

Childbirths in S. Korea hit another low in January

Azerbaijani delegation of Chamber of Accounts visits US

China opens WTO dispute against US subsidies to protect its EV industry

Aykhan Hajizade: We strongly condemn anti-Azerbaijani allegations in report prepared by group led by Rasmussen

Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts

Türkiye says it will always ‘stand shoulder to shoulder’ with Pakistan in fight against terrorism

Obama, fearing Biden loss to Trump, is on the phone to strategize

Georgian PM, Parliament Speaker nominate national football team for Medal of Honour

Türkiye to host 2027 European Games

Passenger traffic at Baku Airport increased by more than 30% during the holidays

Number of those injured in Moscow attack rises to 360

35 more families relocated to Fuzuli city get house keys VIDEO

Controversial Titanic floating door prop sells for $718,750

Humans pass more viruses to other animals than we catch from them

On World Theatre Day, ICESCO calls for greater integration of “father of all arts” into school curricula

Black Carbon: Not just pollutant, but also driver of global warming

From Daniel Noboa Azín, Constitutional President of the Republic of Ecuador

Two Azerbaijani boxers qualify for final of Great Silk Way International Tournament-2024

1 in 3 migrant deaths occur en route to escape conflict: UN migration agency

ICESCO obtains Observer status in Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network

China sends multirole satellite into orbit VIDEO

® Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic met with the staff of My Azerbaijan International Magazine

Japan aims to launch next-generation passenger aircraft by around 2035

Global oil prices drop

Austria stun Türkiye 6-1 in international friendly

Six workers presumed dead after crippled cargo ship knocks down Baltimore bridge

Azerbaijani oil price drops on world markets

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry: Statements by EU and US clearly have a one-sided and biased character VIDEO

2 UK ministers resign, forcing Sunak into Cabinet reshuffle

Poland, Ukraine bag EURO 2024 tickets