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USA worried at growing Russian presence in Caucasus, congressman tells
Azeris
Ekspress, Baku 14 Apr 06
Yeni Azarbaycan, Baku 14 Apr 06
US Congressman Jim Kolbe has said that the USA is concerned about
Russia's increasing presence in the Caucasus, Azerbaijani newspaper
Ekspress has reported.
Kolbe said at a news conference in Baku on 13 April: "My country is
concerned about Russia's increasing military and economic presence in
the Caucasus.
The region is important to all of us. I think that the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline increase regional independence and reduce dependence on a
country like Russia."
Kolbe added that Azerbaijan could wait a little more for the complete
repeal of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act banning US government
aid to Azerbaijan 'in conditions when the Karabakh settlement is not
far off'. He stressed that the US Congress could allocate funds to
Azerbaijan after a 'political resolution' of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.
The newspaper added that Kolbe discussed Caspian regional developments
and Azerbaijan's relations with its neighbours at a meeting with
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Mammadyarov told Kolbe that the
Karabakh settlement was possible only on the basis of Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity, Ekspress quoted the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry as saying. It added that the minister also spoke about the
need to jointly fight terrorism.
At the same time, the pro-government newspaper Yeni Azarbaycan quoted
Kolbe as saying that the USA wants a lasting and fair solution to the
conflict and that the USA would be one of the first countries to
assist Azerbaijan in rehabilitating its occupied territories.
Ekspress added that asked about reasons for Azerbaijan's omission from
the Millennium Challenge programme, the congressman noted that the
main criteria under which countries are given aid are quality of
management and level of corruption.
"Kolbe is waiting 'impatiently' for the day Azerbaijan meets those
criteria," the newspaper said.
Azeris
Ekspress, Baku 14 Apr 06
Yeni Azarbaycan, Baku 14 Apr 06
US Congressman Jim Kolbe has said that the USA is concerned about
Russia's increasing presence in the Caucasus, Azerbaijani newspaper
Ekspress has reported.
Kolbe said at a news conference in Baku on 13 April: "My country is
concerned about Russia's increasing military and economic presence in
the Caucasus.
The region is important to all of us. I think that the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline increase regional independence and reduce dependence on a
country like Russia."
Kolbe added that Azerbaijan could wait a little more for the complete
repeal of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act banning US government
aid to Azerbaijan 'in conditions when the Karabakh settlement is not
far off'. He stressed that the US Congress could allocate funds to
Azerbaijan after a 'political resolution' of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.
The newspaper added that Kolbe discussed Caspian regional developments
and Azerbaijan's relations with its neighbours at a meeting with
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Mammadyarov told Kolbe that the
Karabakh settlement was possible only on the basis of Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity, Ekspress quoted the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry as saying. It added that the minister also spoke about the
need to jointly fight terrorism.
At the same time, the pro-government newspaper Yeni Azarbaycan quoted
Kolbe as saying that the USA wants a lasting and fair solution to the
conflict and that the USA would be one of the first countries to
assist Azerbaijan in rehabilitating its occupied territories.
Ekspress added that asked about reasons for Azerbaijan's omission from
the Millennium Challenge programme, the congressman noted that the
main criteria under which countries are given aid are quality of
management and level of corruption.
"Kolbe is waiting 'impatiently' for the day Azerbaijan meets those
criteria," the newspaper said.