POLITICS
“UNITED STATES AND AZERBAIJAN ARE STRONG ALLY AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS”, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE DAVID SAMPSON
“Thanks to strategic position and huge energy resources, in 2006, economic growth in Azerbaijan has reached 34 percent. Thus, the country has created unprecedented base to continue its economic growth”, David Sampson, USA Deputy Secretary of Commerce told at the business lunch arranged by the America-Azerbaijan Commerce Chamber in Baku, 4 June.
Noting that the United States supported development and independence of Azerbaijan from the first years, David Sampson said that USA and Azerbaijan are already strong ally and strategic partners. We are ally in combat against terrorism, as Presidents George Bush and Ilham Aliyev noted last year in Washington, and try to reach global energy safety and want to implement economic and political reforms promoting freedom and development of democracy, he stressed.
According to him, a large share of this development belongs to energy resources and the incomes are able to change the whole country. Right and efficient management of the energy profits, he said, will promote opening of new workplaces, rise of living standards and sustainability of economy. At his words, creation of the State Oil Fund and its transparent activity is a strong factor in this direction.
The United States strongly supports Azerbaijan’s intention to become member of the World Trade Organization and this is an important step in integration to the world economy. Constant dialogue, cooperation and development will bring welfare, stability and strong partnership, Mr. Sampson underlined. And the goal of current visit is to strengthen strategic partnership of the two countries, he stressed.