US envoy urges fair parliamentary polls in Azerbaijan

Turan news agency
1 Mar 05

Baku, 1 March: The US government has allocated 7m dollars for the
implementation of a number of programmes in Azerbaijan, which include
training for specialists in the field of elections, the US ambassador
to Azerbaijan, Reno Harnish, has told journalists.

Harnish said the funds will be channelled into democratic
development. The ambassador expressed the hope that the parliamentary
elections will be free and transparent.

“We hope that the forthcoming parliamentary elections will bring
Azerbaijan closer to the Euro-Atlantic area,” he said.

“This does not mean that we are critical of the elections in
Azerbaijan. We would like the elections to be an accurate reflection
of the voting process,” Harnish said.

Asked about the statement by the US ambassador to Armenia, John
Evans, that Nagornyy Karabakh cannot be returned to Azerbaijan,
Harnish confirmed that the USA supports Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity. He said the USA does not recognize Nagornyy
Karabakh’s independence.

Speaking about bilateral cooperation, the ambassador said the USA and
Azerbaijan were successfully cooperating in the area of security and
pointed to great potential in this area. As an example, he cited the
cooperation in protecting the borders in the Caspian Sea.

“This cooperation can expand depending on the needs of the sides,”
the ambassador said.