ELMAR MAMEDYAROV DISCUSSED WITH CONDOLEEZZA RICE KARABAKH CONFLICT

WASHINGTON, JULY 24. ARMINFO-TURAN: Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met yeasterday in Washington with advisor
on national security Condoleezza Rice. During the talk Rice thanked
Azerbaijan for support in struggle against global terrorism. “The
United States considers Azerbaijan its close friend and ally”, she
noted.

In his turn Elmar Mammadyarov informed Rice about situation in the
region of Southern Caucasus. He noted, that the relations between
Azerbaijan and the USA remain at the level of strategic partnership.

The sides also have had exchange of views on development and
transportation of energy resources of the Caspian sea, programs of the
US in region of Southern Caucasus, relations of Azerbaijan with its
neighbors.

Touching the issue of Karabakh conflict Condoleezza Rice emphasized,
that the US are interested in the immediate peace settlement of the
problem and as the as the memeber of OSCE Minst group would support
efforts on search of ways of settlement of the conflict.

The same day Mamedyarov met with congressmen James Gibbon and chairman
of subcommittee on external operations of the House of Representatives
James Coble. On discussions with American legislators, Elmar
Mammadyarov emphasized, that the decision of the Congress on granting
in 2005 fiscal year of the military aid to Azerbaijan and Armenia in
the equal amount has been rceived negatevely in Azerbaijan.–