Today.Az , Azerbaijan
sept 19 2009

United States places importance on relationship with Azerbaijan: Under
Secretary of State (UPDATE)

19 September 2009 [12:57] – Today.Az

William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, made a speech
to a conference on Azerbaijan-U.S. relations organized at the
Georgetown University.

12:57

Text of Burn’s speech was posted to a Web site of the Department of
State.

`Azerbaijan is now on the threshold of a new and even more promising
phase of energy sector development,’ Burns said.

`The U.S. and Azerbaijan have a long partnership in major strategic
energy projects that have created linkages between West and East.’

`The recent signing of the Nabucco Intergovernmental Agreement was a
major milestone for opening up a new natural gas corridor to
Europe. It is important that Turkey and Azerbaijan build on this
momentum and soon reach an agreement on gas pricing, transit, and any
remaining issues needed to make the Southern Corridor a reality,’ he
said.

`Such projects have not only unlocked Caspian energy resources for the
world, but have also fueled Azerbaijan’s economy and secured a more
independent economic future for the Azerbaijani people,’ he added.

`We encourage ongoing discussions between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan,
Kazakhstan, Turkey, and other partners to find reliable, transparent
ways to help this production reach European and other markets. And I
assure you that the United States stands ready to keep working closely
with Azerbaijan, our other friends in the region, and the private
sector to strengthen and expand global energy supply.’

`While several major U.S. firms, such as Chevron and Exxon, operate in
Azerbaijan’s energy industry, we’d frankly like to see more
U.S. investment in the non-oil sectors. American companies can help
Azerbaijan diversify its economy by bringing new technologies and
skill sets,’ he said.

`I’m confident that investment will flow as long as Azerbaijan
continues its program of economic and democratic reform, which is the
third pillar of our shared agenda.’ `Azerbaijan has already made
significant strides in improving the country’s infrastructure and
regulatory environment,’ he noted.

`Joining the World Trade Organization ` an aspiration that Azerbaijan
has pursued and the U.S. strongly supports ` promises to be one of the
fastest ways for the country to seize the benefits of foreign markets
and attract international investors,’ he said.

11:17

"President and Secretary Clinton are committed to doing everything
possible to support that goal. We want to see Azerbaijan and Armenia
living side-by-side in a peace that fosters mutual prosperity," Burns
said.

"Towards that end, we recently announced the appointment of Ambassador
Bob Bradtke as the next U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group."

"We hope that the recent progress made in talks between Presidents
Aliyev and Sargsian will lead to tangible results when they meet next
month," he said.

Burns also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Burns mentioned the economic and political reforms ongoing in
Azerbaijan.

"The U.S., as a strong and steady friend of Azerbaijan, is committed
to working together with the Azerbaijani government and its people to
support the development of a secure, prosperous, and democratic
state," he added.

"As an active participant in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program,
Azerbaijan is developing multifaceted security relationships with its
neighbors in the region. It has made steadfast contributions to NATO
and coalition efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo," Burns said.

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