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Text of Obamaâ€™s letter to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev

07 June 2010 12:26 (UTC +04:00)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates handed Obama’s letter to President Ilham Aliyev on Sunday during a visit meant to ease strains in relations with the Caspian Sea country, a link in Afghan supply lines and energy export routes.
"The United States recognizes Azerbaijan’s important contributions to regional and international security," Obama wrote in the letter released by the Pentagon.
"It is my hope that we will be able to broaden and deepen our relationship in the months and years ahead," Obama wrote.
Obama praised Azerbaijan’s commitment to efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, mediated by the United States, Russia and France, and warned against using force.
"I ... believe that a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is essential for the long-term stability of the South Caucasus region, and support for this outcome will remain a priority for the United States."
Azerbaijan has built up its military and repeatedly warned it would have to resort to force to reclaim control over Nagorno-Karabakh if the dispute is not resolved.
Gates, the most senior U.S. official to visit Azerbaijan since Obama took office last year, hand delivered the letter to Aliyev to make clear "we have a relationship going forward," a senior defense official said on Sunday.
Obama praised Azerbaijan for sending military personnel to serve in Afghanistan and opening its land and air space to help resupply U.S. and NATO forces there.
Since 2001, tens of thousands of military aircraft and supply trucks have crossed the country carrying U.S. and NATO forces and equipment to the war zone. The Pentagon wants to avoid problems which could slow Obama’s 30,000-troop surge.
Azerbaijan is also a major oil producer and a key hub on a route for Central Asia and Caspian Sea energy to Europe bypassing Russia to the north and Iran to the south.
"Azerbaijan’s leadership in the development for a Southern Corridor for energy has also increased regional prosperity and enhanced global energy security," Obama wrote.