AZERBAIJAN CAN SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OTHER COUNTRIES FOR ITS TOLERANCE, A US OFFICIAL HAS SAID

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Feb 8 2007

"I am impressed by the level of tolerance between the ethnic and
religious groups here," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public
Diplomacy Colleen Graffy told a meeting held at the Academy of State
Administration under the Azerbaijani President.

The diplomat said it would be wrong to mention oil alone when speaking
about Azerbaijan. "The changes taking place in the country depend on
how the government uses oil revenues. Much depends on whether they
are used to enrich certain people or to develop education, healthcare,
society and infrastructure as well as to build parks and entertainment
centers," Graffy said.

Touching on the issues relating to Iran, Graffy said the international
community has called on it to halt its nuclear research. "We have
invited the Iranian government to cooperate with the world community
in this."

Speaking of the so-called "genocide of Armenians", the US official
said such issues are discussed all over the world, just like in
Armenia. "But this is not up to politicians, as such issues should be
rather addressed by historians. These are very serious problems. It
is critical to reveal the truth so that the society develops and
wounds heal."

With regard to the Gars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway project,
which will be implemented without US assistance, the diplomat said
Washington does not fund all projects at all.

"This railway is one of them. But the fact that we are not a party
to the project does not mean the US government will refuse to fund
other projects in Azerbaijan," Graffy added.