JAMES KOLBE: “I HOPE SOLUTION OF NK CONFLICT IS NOT VERY FAR”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

James Kolbe, Chairman of the Subcommittee Foreign Operations of US
Congress held a press conformance on the conclusions of his visit to
Baku today (APA).

Mr.Kolbe said he had talks with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov,
met members of Milli Majlis (Parliament) as well as representatives
of the Armed Forces. During the talks the US Congressman expressed
his gratitude for Azerbaijan’s role in fighting the international
terrorism.

Mr. Kolbe said that as one of the countries co-chairing OSCE Minsk
Group, the United States supports fair and long-lasting solution of
the Nagorno Garabagh conflict, stressing that long-lasting peace and
economic development in the region depends on solving the Nagorno
Garabagh conflict.

Referring to the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s upcoming
official visit to the US, the Congressman assessed this as the proof
of development of relations between the two countries. He expressed
his confidence that the visit will be successful and promote expanding
of strategic relations. According to the US Congressman, Ilham Aliyev
will have talks with representatives of both executive and legislative
bodies in the US.

Responding to the question whether Ilham Aliyev and George Bush are
due to discuss the elimination of Section 907 of the Freedom Support
Act, Kolbe said that the Congress makes final decision on this issue.

“I hope as the solution of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict is not very
far, complete elimination of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act
can be expected too,” Kolbe emphasized.

Commenting on allocation of grants to Armenia and Georgia in the
framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Program but not
to Azerbaijan, the Congressman said he closely took part in preparation
of the MDGs.

“Allocation of grants to Armenia has nothing to do with the Nagorno
Garabagh issue. The quality of governing, level of corruption are
taken into account in the country when grants are allocated.

International organizations decide to what country to grant in the
end. I look forward to granting to Azerbaijan very soon. Azerbaijan has
taken some steps in this field. We’ll continue rendering multisided
aids to Azerbaijan. These spheres include military, healthcare and
development of democracy,” Kolbe said.

The US Congressman said he advocates providing strong military
assistances to Azerbaijan. He also stressed that as Chairman of the
Subcommittee he looks forward to rendering assistances to post-war
Azerbaijan for renovation work.