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Eric Rubin: "Cooperation in the energy sector and diversification oil transportation are the positive aspects of the US-Azerbaijani relations"

14 March 2013 05:03 (UTC +04:00)

Washington. N.Kazimova APA. The annual Congress of Turkic-American Union, which brought together more than seven hundred members of the Turkic world and U.S. officials as well as experts on the region, ended in Washington.

Congressman from Texas, Ted Poe, a member of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Samad Seyidov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to U.S. Elin Suleymanov, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Eric Rubin, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Director for European and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council in the White House David Merkel, a former congressman from the state of New York, Michael McMahon had speeches at the discussions on cooperation with Azerbaijan. Members of Milli Majlis Sevinj Fataliev and Asim Mollazade also had speeches at the congress.

In their statements, U.S. officials also emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan in the implementation of energy projects, as well as military operations in Afghanistan. "There is not a single American soldier who did not fly over the territory of Azerbaijan on the way to Afghanistan," - said Ted Poe.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Eric Rubin noted in his speech that the U.S. will continue to assist Azerbaijan in the field of ongoing development of civil society and the rule of law, the establishment of an independent judiciary and the move towards greater openness.

Michael McMahon said that the existence of Section 907 is inexcusable for U.S. foreign policy. "This is a signal that Azerbaijan is not an equal partner to the U.S., and it should be eliminated," - said McMahon.

The participants touched on the importance of the development of bilateral relations not only in the field of energy and the security sector, but also in the cultural and educational exchanges between ordinary citizens.

E.Rubin commented on the question of APA’s correspondent why there is a difference in the category "Investing in people" in Armenia and Azerbaijan, - United States has invested huge amounts in Armenia, while in the same category in Azerbaijan, was not spent a single dollar. "Decisions about the size of aid to different countries take the Congress. The administrative authority has no way to influence their decisions, except of the recommendations we give them. As for the funds provided for the purpose of "investing in people", I guess, but not sure if it is a student exchange program. We, of course, would like to expand and see more Azerbaijani students in the U.S., despite the reduction in the budget. And the Azerbaijani government is also doing a lot, sending students to study abroad, "- said Rubin.