Azernews.Az

WASHINGTON, D.C. – US President Barack Obama held a face-to-face meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on Friday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, in what some say was Washington’s attempt to mend relations with Baku.

The meeting proceeded without media coverage, and journalists could only take photos for a few minutes.

The meeting was attended by President Obama's national security adviser James Jones, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett.

The two presidents made no statements following the talks.

US officials said earlier that during the talks with the leader of Azerbaijan, a key U.S. ally in Afghanistan, Obama would discuss Washington’s operations in the post-war country.

Azerbaijan is a critical link in the Northern Distribution Network, the supply line that delivers materials to US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

About one-quarter of the coalition's nonlethal supplies for Afghanistan, including food and fuel, are reportedly transported through Azerbaijan.

The South Caucasus republic also plays a key role in Europe’s energy security. Flush with oil and gas resources, and with a location on the Caspian Sea, it’s a key hub for delivering its own and Central Asia’s energy supplies to European markets, bypassing Russia to the north and Iran to the south.

For those reasons, Washington appears keen to repair frayed ties with Baku, analysts say.