Trend, Azerbaijan
April 17 2010

Azerbaijani top official: Azerbaijan may "reconsider" U.S. relations

17.04.2010 13:36

Azerbaijani Presidential Administration socio-political department
head Ali Hasanov said Azerbaijan may review its policy towards the
United States.

"The United States does not implement policy towards Azerbaijan as a
strategic partner, and that’s why we might reconsider our policy
towards the United States," Hasanov told Reuters.

Hasanov said as a co-mediator in talks on Nagorno-Karabakh, Washington
"should first of all promote a solution to the Karabakh conflict."

"We believe the Americans should not only think of how to help Armenia
overcome the economic crisis," he said.

Hasanov did dot specified what steps Azerbaijan may take, but added
that the country participates in several joint projects with
Washington, including a "major multinational energy projects."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress