MFA: Relations between Azerbaijan and United States developing in different areas

Azerbaijan is an ally of the West both in the field of energy and in light of the general security mission in Afghanistan, Minister of Foreign of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov believes.

"The relations between Azerbaijan and the United States are developing in different areas with both sides endeavouring for this," Mammadyarov said at the Azerbaijan-US forum 'Looking to the Future,' which takes place in Baku on Wednesday.

"Azerbaijan has helped and will continue to assist the delivery of cargo for NATO to Afghanistan and fully supports international security efforts in different regions of the world. Safety is the most important moment of our policy," the Foreign Minister said.
He noted with regret the fact of there being an occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia.
"Unfortunately, our territories are still occupied despite four resolutions of the UN Security Council. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict directly affects the development of the region and one million refugees have not returned to their homes yet. The Armenian authorities' actions hurt not only Baku, but also the people of Armenia and the development of the entire region," the minister said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions of Azerbaijan.

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 peace negotiations.
The minister said that Azerbaijan has a strategic geopolitical location connecting east and west and is one of the unique places where peaceful people of different nationalities live together and where multicultural dialogue develops.


/Trend/