POLITICS
John Bolton: U.S.-Azerbaijan relations are of strategic importance
Baku, October 24, AZERTAC
“The U.S.-Azerbaijan relations are of the strategic importance,” said the U.S. President’s National Security Adviser John Bolton as he met with Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku.
Underlining that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the relations with the U.S., Minister Elmar Mammadyarov noted that Azerbaijan closely cooperates with the United States in several fields, particularly in the framework of the fight against terrorism. FM Mammadyarov also thanked the U.S. Government for its support to the projects implemented by the initiative of Azerbaijan.
John Bolton stressed the necessity of developing cooperation between the two countries in various areas.
The U.S. President’s National Security Adviser also reiterated that the contributions of Azerbaijan to the operations in Afghanistan in the framework of the fight against terrorism are highly appreciated.
Briefing his interlocutor about the negotiation process on the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Elmar Mammadyarov underlined that the current status-quo is unacceptable and unsustainable. The FM emphasized the illegal existence of the armed forces of Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and stressed that in order to achieve a sustainable and peaceful solution to the conflict, first of all the Armenian troops should be withdrawn from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan and the people who were forced to flee these territories should return to their homelands.
The sides discussed the energy, transit and transport projects realized by the initiative of Azerbaijan, especially the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Southern Gas Corridor.
They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.