Though the work above the program of official visit of President Ilham Aliyev yet has not completed, it is already known, that on April 27 the heads of state will take part in conference on the topic “The American-Azerbaijan strategic relations: political and economic priorities”, devoted to the 10th anniversary of the activity of the American-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce.

A number of authoritative political analysts on the South Caucasus in conversation with correspondent of AZERTAC have shared views on what they expect from the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Washington.

The Editor-In-Chief of magazine “Central Asia-Caucasus” S. Cornell has told: “First of all, this visit will allow to lift the American-Azerbaijan relations on the level reached at former President Heydar Aliyev’s time. President Heydar Aliyev, making frequent visits to the USA, has established very close ties with American government. Ilham Aliyev's visit will become a mean for restoration of sense of trust and links of high level. As if to concrete questions to be discussed, I consider, that the basic question of the agenda will be Karabakh. Considering inefficiency of the Minsk Group format, the USA now intends to show unilaterally greater activity in settlement of the Karabakh conflict. This tendency is completely clear.

As a whole, the USA understands strategic value of Azerbaijan, and not only because of its geographical position, power resources of your country but also because it is the secular Islamic state in dangerous region of the world.

As if to the Iranian question, I should note, that the Azerbaijani press strongly inflates this theme. Certainly, the neighborhood of Azerbaijan with Iran is important for America. Nevertheless, I do not think, that the Iranian theme will be in the center of attention on discussions during visit”.

The general analyst of the Jamestown Fund Vladimir Sokor also has shared his views: “I expect with optimism the visit of Mr. Aliyev. This visit should take place earlier. America and Azerbaijan have close strategic ties. Grandiose power projects of Azerbaijan would hardly be carried out without political and economic support of the USA. The United States are the unique force preventing hegemony of Russia on Southern Caucasus.

I consider, that, despite of contradictions, last parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan promoted strengthening of the American-Azerbaijan relations. The analyses lead recently testifies that these elections have been lead best of all the previous elections in Azerbaijan. Washington admits this fact. Therefore, President Ilham Aliyev has received the invitation to Washington. I think, that present visit will make certain contribution to the American-Azerbaijan friendly relations and will answer national interests of Azerbaijan.

As to settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the United States clearly wishes to take leadership in mediation. Steven Mann, working within the Minsk Group, at the same time tries to make active intermediary efforts of the USA with a view of achievement of direct settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The efforts, undertaken by three co-chairmen, appear ineffectual, as Russia is not interested in settlement of the conflict. The USA has the basic economic and political keys. I hope, that Armenia, having shown sufficient wisdom, will accept the USA as leader in mediation at settlement of the conflict. I know, that Azerbaijan will not object to this. In this case, 2006 can become successful in settlement of the Karabakh question”.

Chairman of Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) of the Johns Hopkins University Frederick Starr University: “Arrival of President Ilham Aliyev in Washington is a very much good news. It will be very successful visit. Certainly, the said visit will allow speaking openly about Karabakh. We, the analysts, call members of the government of the USA to lift the Karabakh question at negotiations with the Azerbaijan party, to be more active in this. It is high time of settlement of the conflict. The Azerbaijan territories should be returned, and there urgently should begin regenerative process. After this, there can be found the way out acceptable at the international level for settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Armenians should understand the reality. Time has come to pay attention to this question more resolutely”.