AZERBAIJAN WITHDRAWS U.S. FROM MINSK GROUP ON ARMENIA-AZERBAIJANI CONFLICT AND CEASES ENERGY CO-OPERATION

Azerbaijan Business Center
April 16 2010

The latent conflict between the Barak Obama Administration and
Azerbaijan started acquiring tangible outlines.

Ali Hasanov, the head of the Socio-Political Department of the
Azerbaijan Presidential Administration, stated today that Azerbaijani
authorities and the public had started taking adequate moves and were
seeking alternate ways linked with the Garabagh problem settlement.

"Already now there formed public opinion against United States’
participation in the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno Garabagh conflict
as it has given nothing to Azerbaijan," he said.

In his opinion, the U.S’ ambiguous role on Garabagh can also have
impact on US-Azerbaijani energy co-operation.

"The U.S., being a peacemaker in Garabagh, should pursue more careful
policy. And the moves taken lately in the U.S. concern the Azerbaijani
public," Hasanov stressed.

Nevertheless, Azerbaijan considers the U.S. its strategic partner and
became one of the first Moslem states that entered in the coalition
led by America, despite it was regarded ambiguously by the Moslem
community.

"Azerbaijan has always been a reliable energy partner of the U.S. and
that is why U.S’ current attempts to tackle Armenia’s economic
problems unilaterally in damage to Garabagh conflict settlement cause
perplexity in Azerbaijan. At the same time no grave attempts are taken
on Garabagh conflict settlement. WE don’t see these attempts. Instead
to make Armenia to decline from occupation policy the U.S. tries to
withdraw Armenia form economic crisis. That is why nobody should be
blamed for anti-American statements and first of all against the U.S.

Congress and American circles making decisions under pressure of the
Armenian lobby," Hasanov said.