Baku, March 29, AZERTAC

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said his country works closely with Azerbaijan on energy. “The United States supports Azerbaijan's efforts to diversify its economy and increase its economic opportunity,” said Tillerson as he had an exchange of congratulatory letters with Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Tillerson noted that Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to offer support after 9/11. He also added that the United States remains committed to facilitating a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In his letter addressed to the US Secretary of State, FM Mammadyarov said “throughout the past 25 years the relations between our two nations have transformed into strategic partnership with a distinct peculiarity devoted to development of our collaboration in political, economic and security areas”.

“Nowadays, Azerbaijan closely cooperates with the United States on energy issues by contributing to energy security and energy diversification in Europe.” Noting the successful cooperation of the two countries on counterterrorism and non-proliferation issues, the Foreign Minister also added that Azerbaijan is one of the first countries to provide multifaceted support for the United States operations in Afghanistan.

Mammadyarov stressed that Azerbaijan relies on honest mediation of the United States on the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict and reiterated that the conflict must be resolved by peaceful means on the basis of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.