Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

US-Azerbaijani relations are growing broader and deeper, a senior State Department official said Monday in conclusion of his visit to Azerbaijan.

Eric Rubin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, told a press conference in Baku that during his talks with Azerbaijani leaders the sides discussed the US-Azerbaijani strategic partnership, which plays a great role, especially on the issue of Afghanistan, where US and Azerbaijani troops are serving side by side.

The U.S. appreciates Azerbaijan's supporting the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) -- a NATO-led international military contingent operating in Afghanistan since 2001, Rubin told journalists.

Rubin noted that during the visit he had an opportunity to discuss the issue of boosting investments between the two countries.

With regard to the opening of an airport in Khankandi, which is the center of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh republic run by ethnic Armenians in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, he said the issue should find a diplomatic solution.

"The U.S is one of the co-chair countries of OSCE Minsk Group [brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict], and we strongly support the efforts of the Minsk Group. The co-chairs have made a statement concerning the issue of the Khankandi airport opening. It is important for all sensitive issues to be settled diplomatically through negotiations," he said.

According to the State Department official, such moves delay the negotiation process and make it harder to achieve progress in the ongoing peace talks.

Azerbaijan has banned the use of the airspace of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenia, as no one can guarantee a safe air corridor over the territory.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ICAC) support the position of Azerbaijan on the issue.

The deputy assistant secretary also expressed US support for further development of energy in resource-rich Azerbaijan.

"We obviously have supported Western energy companies' efforts to help Azerbaijan develop its energy resources," he said. "We believe that there will be success and mutual benefits in this respect."

Regarding Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's recent criticism of BP over its failure to meet the production targets in past years that resulted in Azerbaijan's losing oil revenues, Rubin said it was not correct to comment on the issues that are up to the relations between the company and the Azerbaijani government.

President Aliyev told a cabinet meeting last week that crude mistakes of the international consortium that BP operates, Azerbaijan International Operating Company, have led to a sharp decline in oil production on Azeri and Chirag fields, which are part of the ACG development, the largest oil fields in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian. According to President Aliyev, BP failed to meet the production target in 2009-12, which resulted in Azerbaijan's receiving $8.1 billion less in direct revenue.

Rubin also touched upon the issue of sanctions against Iran. He told journalists that the U.S. believes the sanctions have an effect in bringing Iran to the negotiating table.

"I cannot say anything specific about possible further efforts. But we are determined to keep pressure on Iran," Rubin said.

He said the U.S. appreciates Azerbaijan's effort to support the international community in its critical work to ensure that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons.

"As a close neighbor Azerbaijan has an important role to play and is playing it," Rubin said.

He said Washington believes it is making progress in convincing the Iranian government that it has very positive options to continue its program in line with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

"I think that this is the highest priority. We believe that this effort needs to continue," Rubin said.

The U.S. and other Western countries accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the allegations, saying its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.

During the visit, Rubin held talks with the Azerbaijani President, Foreign Minister and also met NGO representatives and civil society representatives.

President Aliyev received a US delegation led by the deputy assistant secretary on Saturday.

The parties expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the U.S. in a number of fields.

They also cited vast opportunities for further expansion of economic relations.

The sides also stressed the importance of high-level cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector.

Views on the current state of negotiations on resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were exchanged as well.

At the meeting with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on Monday, Rubin said the United States attaches great importance to the development of its cooperation with Azerbaijan.

Rubin welcomed Azerbaijan's contribution as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in ensuring peace and security in the world.

Mammadyarov expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the two countries and stressed great potential for its development.

He also stressed the necessity of a withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijan's occupied territories, expressing regret over Yerevan's destructive position.