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U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan: â€œOur statement does not question the outcome of the electionâ€

26 October 2013 16:49 (UTC +04:00)

Baku – APA. U.S Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar’s interview to APA TV.

- The USA State Department statement on the presidential elections created a stir. So, in brief, does the United States recognize the legitimacy of the elections in Azerbaijan?

- First of all, we stand by our statement of October 10 regarding the elections. However, our statement does not question the outcome of the election. President Aliyev has been inaugurated. We look forward to working with him and the government of Azerbaijan on a wide range of issues including democracy related issues, Nagorno-Karabakh, other geopolitical issues, counter-terrorism, and energy and economic diversification issues.

- In response to statements by OSCE/ODIHR, Azerbaijan put forward the possibility of ceasing corporation with this organization. What’s your opinion of it?

- We hope very much that Azerbaijan will continue to work with OSCE/ODIHR. And we hope that Azerbaijan will take steps to further promote democratic principles and values in Azerbaijan.

- Recently OSCE observers reported shooting on the line of contact. Later, the OSCE Minsk Group could not identify the direction which initiated the shooting. Azerbaijan side, (Azerbaijani society) received that with much concern. This fact in future brings about the continuation of the violation of the ceasefire. What do you think of this?

- I think this is a matter that OSCE should comment on, not me or the United States. I would emphasize that it is important that neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan take actions that would escalate tensions on the line of contact. We obviously hope that now, after the elections in Armenia earlier this year and the elections recently in Azerbaijan, there will be an opening to make progress in the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh.

- The OSCE Minsk Group is expected to visit the region in November, and the Azerbaijan and Armenian presidents meeting is expected by the end of this year. When will be the exact date of these talks?

- We certainly hope there will be a meeting between both presidents before the end of the year. As to the exact date, I think it would be best to ask the President and not me. But we certainly hope that there will be a meeting.

- In October, Azerbaijan started chairing the UN Security Council again. What are the advantages of it for Azerbaijan and the UN?

- First of all I think it is very exciting that Azerbaijan has the chairmanship of the Security Council this month. I think that Azerbaijan has done a wonderful job in its capacity as a member of the Security Council. We have cooperated very closely with Azerbaijan on matters relating to the Security Council. Regarding Nagorno-Karabakh, let me just say what I said before, that we need to make every effort to reach a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We really do hope that with the completion of the elections in Armenia and Azerbaijan that there will be an opening to make progress. I can assure that the United States as a Minsk Group co-chair will work hard and make every effort to try and promote that progress. That is why Ambassador Warlick was here earlier this week and why the Minsk Group co-chairs will be here in a couple of weeks.

- The customs unions have been established which is seen as an alternative to the European Union. The U.S. is a county which is in close cooperation with the regional countries. So in terms of the preference by the regional conference to this or that union, what can you say about this?

- A hallmark of our policy going back to the breakup of the Soviet Union has been to promote the independence and sovereignty of the former Soviet countries and certainly the countries in this region. That has certainly been the highest priority of our relationship with Azerbaijan--that it be an independent and sovereign country. Therefore, I would say that it is up to Azerbaijan, Armenia, or any other country to make its own decisions as to what organizations it will belong to.

- This fiscal year started with the shutdown of the Government. Does this shutdown have any kind of impact or influence on U.S.-Azerbaijani bilateral relations? And how is the shutdown is being handled?

- Well, you know the shutdown is over and the shutdown in my view has had absolutely no effect on the relationship between the United States and Azerbaijan. We look forward to continuing to have a very cooperative relationship with Azerbaijan along the lines that I have already talked about in this interview.