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BAKU: Bush, Azeri President Discuss Iran, Democracy, Energy

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  • BAKU: Bush, Azeri President Discuss Iran, Democracy, Energy

    BUSH, AZERI PRESIDENT DISCUSS IRAN, DEMOCRACY, ENERGY

    Baku Today, Azerbaijan
    Source: U.S. Department of State
    May 1 2006

    President Bush said Azerbaijan has "a very important role to play"
    in energy security, and told visiting President Ilham Aliyev that it
    is important for the world to see a modern Muslim country embracing
    democracy for its future.

    Speaking at the White House April 28, Bush said he and Aliyev held a
    "candid discussion," which included topics such as concerns over Iran,
    the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and energy.

    "I appreciate the vision of the government and the vision of the
    president in helping this world achieve what we all want, which is
    energy security. Azerbaijan has got a very important role to play,"
    he said.

    Bush described Azerbaijan as an ally of the United States in the war
    on terrorism.

    "I appreciate so very much the government's contribution of support
    in troops to the new democracy in Iraq," he said, and welcomed the
    opportunity to "bring our ally up to date on the progress that's
    being made on the ground there."

    He also said they talked about "the need ... for the world to see
    a modern Muslim country that is able to provide for its citizens,
    that understands that democracy is the wave of the future."

    Aliyev said his discussions with Bush "covered all the aspects of
    our bilateral relations," and said he considers his visit as being
    "instrumental in the future development of Azerbaijan as a modern,
    secular, democratic country."

    He thanked the United States for its leadership in promoting energy
    security issues in the Caspian region, and in "assisting us to create
    a solid transportation infrastructure which will allow us to develop
    full-scale Caspian oil and gas reserves and to deliver them to the
    international markets."

    The Azeri leader also talked about the conflict between Armenia and
    Azerbaijan, including Nagorno-Karabakh and told Bush about the latest
    negotiations, as well as his hope for a "peaceful settlement of the
    conflict." (See related article.)

    He also expressed his gratitude for U.S. assistance in promoting
    Azerbaijan's political process, including the "democratization of our
    society," adding that his government is "very committed to continue
    this cooperation in the future."

    WHITE HOUSE SAYS AZERI DEMOCRACY WAS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION

    Prior to the meeting, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said
    Bush would use the occasion to discuss the U.S. desire for Azerbaijan
    to "take needed steps to ensure greater democratic freedoms for the
    people of Azerbaijan," and to see how the United States can assist
    in making "needed democratic reforms."

    McClellan said international observers, such as the Organization
    for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), had determined that
    Azerbaijan's 2005 parliamentary elections "did not meet international
    standards in a number of areas," citing "interference from local
    authorities and serious violations during the vote count." (See
    related article.)

    However, the press secretary said there had been improvements over
    previous elections, such as instituting the inking of voters' fingers
    and allowing a more inclusive candidate registration process.

    "We would note that the government took some steps shortly after the
    elections to correct some of the shortcomings including dismissing
    governors, reversing election results in three constituencies and
    calling for 10 elections to be re-run which will take place on May 13,"
    McClellan added.

    Describing Azerbaijan as "a key ally in a region of great importance"
    that is making contributions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo,
    McClellan said the meeting between the two presidents could "help
    encourage President Aliyev along the road to democracy."

    ALIYEV SAYS BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP STRATEGIC TO CASPIAN REGION

    Following his meeting with Bush, Aliyev said the relations between
    the United States and Azerbaijan "are relations of friends [and]
    partners," and that he was "very satisfied" with bilateral cooperation
    in his country's political and economic reforms, energy security and
    transportation, and cooperation against terrorism.

    U.S.-Azeri relations "have a strategic importance for us and for
    general regional development," he said.

    "I consider my visit to the United States as very important and
    instrumental in future development of bilateral ties between us,
    and in the future regional development in the place we all live,"
    Aliyev told reporters.

    Although he said the discussions mostly were concerned with bilateral
    issues, they also discussed "issues of regional security," including
    the conflict over Iran's nuclear program.

    "[W]e are all living in the region and the situation in countries
    which Azerbaijan is neighboring for us is important, and of course
    the Iranian issue was also discussed and we are satisfied with the
    discussion," he said.

    He also said the United States "definitely" supports Azerbaijan's
    energy plans, and that the U.S. "leading role" in the region's energy
    development programs is "very clear" and "decisive." U.S. support
    and assistance for Azerbaijan's transportation infrastructure "was
    and is very important," he added.
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