Co-Chairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, Bill Shuster made a statement on the 20th anniversary of restoration of Azerbaijan`s independence at the House of Representatives.
Shuster said "Located in a geopolitically dynamic region between Europe and Asia and sandwiched between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan is a secular county with a predominantly Muslim population that has also been home for more than a millennia for vibrant Christian and Jewish communities."
The congressman noted "Azerbaijan and the United States enjoy a strong partnership founded on shared interests in global and regional security, energy and economic development, democratic reforms, and respect for human rights."
According to him, President Obama has called Azerbaijan a "young democracy" during his meeting with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in September 2010, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed during her July 2010 trip to Azerbaijan that "the bonds between the United States and Azerbaijan are deep, important, and durable."
Shuster noted "The past 20 years have seen Azerbaijan make great leaps in consolidating its sovereignty and political independence, and they are on the path towards building strong democratic institutions and a diversified economy that will further contribute to the welfare of the people of Azerbaijan. As I frequently remind my colleagues, the United States has more than 230 years of experience developing into the modern democracy we are today." He added it is critical that the United States provide support and friendship to our partner Azerbaijan which is continuing to develop.
The congressman also said Azerbaijan had opened Caspian energy resources to development by U.S. companies and has emerged as a key player for global energy security. "The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project is the most successful project contributing to development of the South Caucasus region and has become the main artery delivering Caspian Sea hydrocarbons to the U.S. and our partners in Europe. It is important for the United States to continue to provide support for the development of the Southern Corridor that will further strengthen energy security."
Shuster also spoke of Azerbaijan`s active participation in international security operations.
The congressman encouraged his colleagues who are interested in supporting Azerbaijan to join him as a member of Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, a bipartisan group of nearly 40 Members of Congress working to help foster the growing partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan and to advance U.S. interests in this pivotal region.

AzerTAc