Azerbaijan’s role in maintaining security, ensuring economic development and supporting the U.S. in the region has been lauded by congressmen and representatives of think-tanks in Washington as "US-Azerbaijan Relations: Vision for Future” convention entered its second day.
The convention featured “U.S. – Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership and Cooperation in Caspian Basin” session, which was addressed by Azerbaijani ambassador to the U.S. Elin Suleymanov and several congressmen. The ambassador noted that the cultural diversity was the main feature peculiar to Azerbaijan, adding it was what linked the two countries to each other.
The congressmen made reports on the strategic relations between the U.S. and Azerbaijan.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the U.S. Representative for Florida's 27th congressional district, noted that Azerbaijan had been a reliable partner of the USA in combating terrorism for over 20 years.
Henry Roberto Cuellar, the U.S Representative for Texas's 28th congressional district, highlighted Azerbaijan`s key role in the EU’s efforts to diversify routes of supplying gas to Europe.
Michael F. Doyle, the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district, and Paul Cook, the Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 8th district, hailed Azerbaijan-U.S. partnership as important.
Grace Meng, the Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 6th district, said the Azerbaijani people had rich cultural values.
Bill Shuster, the Co-Chair of the working group of the U.S. House of Representatives for Azerbaijan, Representative for Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district, called on the U.S. authorities to cancel the Section 907 of the United States Freedom Support Act which bans any kind of direct U.S. aid to the Azerbaijani government.
Mike Turner, the Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 10th district, thanked the Azerbaijani Government for supporting the U.S.
Charlie Dent, the Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 15th district, lauded Azerbaijan`s role in ensuring stability in the South Caucasus, saying “the independent country is the stronghold of security in the region”.
“Azerbaijan: Trusted Friend at the Critical Global Crossroads" session was moderated by George Friedman, Chairman and CEO of Stratfor.
The session heard reports by Richard Weitz, Director and Senior Fellow of Hudson Institute, Samad Seyidov, Azerbaijani MP, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign and Inter-parliamentary Relations, George Friedman, Chairman and CEO of Stratfor, Richard Morningstar, the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ariel Cohen, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Duncan McNabb, General (Ret.), Commander of U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill, Temuri Yakobashvili, Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and Evelyn Farkas, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense to Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia.
Emphasizing the importance of Azerbaijan’s role in the region, Richard Weitz described the country as the initiator of the inter-regional energy and security projects. The Congressman said Azerbaijan was the first country to allow U.S. planes use its air space to provide medical aid to American soldiers in Afghanistan.
Samad Seyidov noted Azerbaijan was a trusted, fruitful, true, honest and faithful friend, which supported the U.S.
Ambassador Morningstar praised the bilateral ties between the two countries as important. He touched upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, calling on Baku and Yerevan to make concrete steps for settling the dispute.
Evelyn Farkas underlined the significance of strengthening Azerbaijan-USA ties in building peace, ensuring security of borders and in sea, and noted Azerbaijan’s contribution to the Northern Distribution Network (NDN).
Duncan McNabb hailed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s efforts in the establishment of the South route of the Network.
Ariel Cohen highlighted Azerbaijan’s geopolitical role for the U.S.
Temuri Yakobashvili noted Azerbaijan was loyal to friends and a trusted partner.
Congressman Charlie Dent was the keynote speaker at the session. He thanked Azerbaijan for supporting the U.S. at the UN General Assembly.