ENVOY SAYS USA TO GIVE "ANY SUPPORT" ON TURKEY’S CAUCASUS INITIATIVE

Azerbaijani Public TV (ITV)
Sept 16 2008

[Presenter] The recent events in Georgia once again proved that the
frozen conflicts in the Caucasus, in particular the Nagornyy Karabakh
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, should be resolved soon, US ambassador
to Azerbaijan Anne Derse has said. She also expressed the attitude of
the United States to the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform.

[Correspondent] The Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform,
initiated by Turkey is [words indistinct]. US ambassador to Azerbaijan
Anne Derse said that the USA is following this process attentively.

[Derse speaking to reporters in English, with Azerbaijani translation
overlaid] We are ready to provide any support on this issue. The United
States of America wants to see the Caucasus and Caspian countries
developing, democratic and stable. The position of the US government
is that sovereign and independent Caucasus states should choose
their ways themselves, and they do so. We believe that the Caucasus
Stability and Cooperation Platform will have a positive impact on
the resolution of conflicts in the South Caucasus in particular.

[Correspondent] The ambassador expressed her country’s concern over
the recent events in Georgia. She said that after these evens the USA
has decided to further step its efforts regarding the resolution of
other conflicts in the Caucasus.

[Derse] The recent events in Georgia proved that it is very important
to resolve conflicts in the region as soon as possible. In particular,
the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh conflict should be resolved
as soon as possible. In particular, US Vice-President Richard Cheney
noted, while visiting Azerbaijan, that the USA recognizes Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and wants the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict to be
resolved only and only on the basis of the principle of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. The USA has always shown activeness in this
area, and from now on this activeness will further increase.