POLITICS
WASHINGTON TIMES: LONG-TERM U.S. INTERESTS CALL FOR ENTERING INTO STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH SUCH STABLE COUNTRIES AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERS AS AZERBAIJAN.
The US Washington Times newspaper published an article on Azerbaijan on Monday.
Author of the article, President of the Caspian Energy Consulting Rob Sobhani calls on the next US president to make Azerbaijan a top foreign-policy priority and resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict a priority of American diplomacy.
Author says the United States should use its good will to bring Armenia to the negotiating table for a final settlement of this conflict. While it is important for Washington to support Georgia, long-term U.S. interests call for entering into strategic alliances with such stable countries and responsible leaders as Azerbaijan.
The article says ``as the United States struggles for ways to counter Russia`s invasion of Azerbaijan`s neighbor Georgia, Washington should consider elevating the U.S. relationship with Azerbaijan into a broader partnership. …Throughout these difficult years, and despite Section 907, Azerbaijan has remained a steadfast friend and ally of the United States. This partnership strengthened after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, because of shared goals and values. Hours after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Azerbaijan`s late president, Heydar Aliyev, invited the U.S. ambassador to his office to express his condolences and offer his country`s full support. Today, Azerbaijan stands with America in the global war on terrorism. Its troops are serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Azerbaijan is also cooperating with the United States to choke off funding for terrorists. U.S. military aircraft have the right to fly over the territory of Azerbaijan to accomplish their missions in Afghanistan, and they also can land in Azerbaijan…. The uninterrupted exploration, development and transportation of Caspian Sea oil and gas reserves to international markets is a goal shared by both Baku and Washington. The BTC pipeline connects the Mediterranean with the heretofore landlocked but energy-rich Caspian Sea. The transformation of Azerbaijan into the main transport corridor of the region has elevated the strategic significance of this country”.