The following is a transcript of AZERTAC special correspondent`s interview with Robert Wexler at his Capitol Hill office.

- Congressman, at the time when the United States decreases the amount of foreign aid, a bill authored by you -the Eurasia Foundation Act- was passed allowing 15 more million dollar appropriations to that part of the world in fiscal year 2008-2009. Obviously, you believe those countries are of importance to America. Can you tell us in what ways?

- I think, in many ways: both on a strategic level, on an economic level. Also, from the point of view of counter-terrorism efforts. We have energy cooperation that is at the forefront, which is not just an economic issue in America at this point. I view it as a national security issue. Diversifying America`s as well as our European allies sources of energy goes to the core of both economics and national security. So, my belief is that the United States need to weigh in even more that we have, in terms of supporting countries in the region. Particularly, countries like Azerbaijan.

- Since the start of the year Azerbaijan has been visited by several congressional delegations headed by you, ranking republican at the Senate`s Foreign Relations Committee Richard Lugar,the co-chair of Azerbaijani Caucus in the House Rep. Bill Shuster. What was the purpose of your visit?

- This was my first visit to Azerbaijan. I wanted to learn about Azerbaijan, to better understand the geopolitical circumstances that Azerbaijan finds itself, with a growing prominence of Iran in the region, with a growing level of

exuberance from president Putin in Russia. Azerbaijan is sandwiched in between these two powers that are in very different stages of their regional and international development. I also wanted to better understand the state of

democratic evolution and reform in Azerbaijan. I met with President Aliyev, opposition leaders, others in Azerbaijan to get a sense of what are America`s interest in Azerbaijan, what are the bilateral interests, what are the

regional interests. Also to try and determine what positive role Turkey is playing in Azerbaijan. How can America best engage with Azerbaijan so as to encourage the type of democratic reform that we would like to see.

- Just like the US, Azerbaijan is facing presidential elections this year. You mentioned that you met will all major political forces in the country. What was your impression of President Ilham Aliyev?

- President Aliyev is a strong leader. He has a vision for his country. I, obviously, would have hoped that there be far more democratic evolution, more freedom of the press, more attention paid to the development of a civil society .

But he made a very strong case for Azerbaijan`s strategic importance, for its political development and he also made a very strong case for why the American-Azerbaijani relationship is so important. We also talked, at my

initiation, the importance of Azerbaijan`s relationship with Israel, which is very important to me and many others in the United States.

- And the leaders of the opposition?

- We as Americans don`t take sides in domestic elections of other countries. They offered their observations in terms of the state of affairs in Azerbaijan. They pointed out what they perceived to be injustices related to the freedom

of the press and inhibition of political activity by the opposition. In the developing democracy these things need to be put in fuller perspective of where that country finds itself, their neighborhood, what are the pros and cons to

accelerating democratic reforms. Azerbaijan is in a difficult neighborhood.

- Have you received answers to your democracy concerns from Azerbaijani government?

- I certainly received answers. I think, there is much improvement that needs to happen. But, don`t forget, this is a developing process.

- Section 907 to the Freedom Support Act that bans any assistance to Azerbaijan on the government level is still in the law books of America. What is your take on that?

- The president has exercised the waiver. So, in effect, it hasn`t had a meaningful impact. I think, a law like this, particularly, if President finds it necessary to exercise the waiver should be reviewed. I think, it should be reviewed from the point of view "does it meet and enhance America`s national security interests. Does it better enable America`s energy independence from Middle Eastern oil and Russian energy sources? Does it improve a lot American consumers?" I

think, it would probably go a long way if we could review Section 907 just to see if it meets our security demands.

- Azerbaijani-Armenia conflict was one of the issues that came up in all your Baku meetings. How the United States can better facilitate the solution in its his role of a mediator?

- Yes, that obviously was the subject of a lot of discussions, because that is something of extreme importance to people in Azerbaijan as it is to us in the United States. And we do want to play a helpful role. What many of the

people in Azerbaijan pointed out was the direction Armenia seems to be headed in terms of enhancing their relations with Iran and becoming more closely associated with Russia. That was something of a great

concern to me.

- Turkey and Azerbaijan are among few secular Muslim allies of the United States. The image of your country here has been damaged by the attempts of the House committee to pass a resolution condemning Turkey for

historical events of 100 years ago. I understand, that a group of legislators are working again to bring a bill back this year. Shall we expect another shock in US-Turkey relations?

- I would hope there wouldn`t be such a shock. There is a committed group of people on behalf of that Armenian resolution. And there were those that opposed it. As well as president, vice-president, State Department and

Defense establishment. I thought, we had resolved it for this year and that`s where it stands

Your home state of Florida is a battleground today in presidential primaries. How important are the foreign policy issues going to be for a voter in November.

- I think, very important. Since 9/11 Americans understand that the world, unfortunately, in some ways is growing much smaller. The two oceans surrounding us don`t protect us anymore. So, people understand foreign

policy isn`t just international relations. It also affects very much every day lives of Americans. It affects our safety, supply of energy, economy in a very significant way.

- Mr. Wexler, a candidate for president that you endorse in these elections, Senator Barack Obama recently spoke about the importance of naming events that happened in Turkey in 1915 a genocide and vowed to

recognize it shall he be elected to the White house. It has angered a million and a half Turkic voters who started a vigorous campaign against Barack Obama and questioning his foreign policy advisors. And of course it is watched closely in the Turkic world. Is it an unavoidable part of campaign to promise anything for the sake of votes? Should we accept it at that and hope for a better judgment once the candidate comes to the office? Or there is a bigger issue here?

- I strongly support Senator Obama. I think, he`s got an excellent foreign policy. He would make America a much stronger and much more popular nation. I think, he would enhance transatlantic relationship and stand for robust relations between US and Turkey. I will leave at that and not dwell at some of the particulars at this point.

- Thank you for your time.