U.S. Vice-President visiting Azerbaijan - UPDATED

04.09.08

10:40

US vice president Richard Cheney, who arrived on an official visit to Azerbaijan Wednesday said that the United States are deeply concerned with the welfare of their allies in this region.

During the meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Cheney said:

President Bush sent me here with a clear and simple message for the people of Azerbaijan and the entire region: the United States are deeply and firmly interested in your prosperity and security.

He also announced that the United States hope for the development of relations with Azerbaijan in the energy sector, reports Reuters.

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03.09.08

17:40

US Vice President Richard Cheney met with President Ilham Aliyev, APA quotes CNN.

The sides discussed latest developments in the region, Azerbaijan’s cooperation in the war on terror and its contributions in Iraq and Afghanistan, CNN reports. Cheney also met with energy representatives including William Schrader, president of BP Azerbaijan, and Robert Dastmalchi, manager at Chevron in Azerbaijan and discussed security of energy corridors. The Vice President had a meeting with the staff of the US embassy in Azerbaijan before leaving for Georgia.

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12:33

He is to travel to Georgia, Ukraine and several EU states after leaving Azerbaijan.

According to the program, he is going to discuss a number of issues, including the situation in the South Caucasus, security in international energy corridor and other matters of concern during his meetings with senior officials in Azerbaijan.

His visit to the region is viewed as the expression of US backing for the allies in the CIS area.

John Hanna, Deputy Assistant for the National Security Affairs, said the main objective of the trip is to demonstrate that the United States takes interest in security and stability in this part of the world.

According to him, the US administration attaches great importance to this visit.

He said Russia’s offensive in Georgia and the unilateral recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states undoubtedly magnified the significance of Cheney’s visit.

/APA/