Azerbaijani president, U.S. diplomat discuss Baku-Washington relations, S. Caucasus peace process

BAKU. June 28 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien in Baku on Friday.

The parties discussed the bilateral agenda and regional processes.

While addressing the Azerbaijani-Armenian normalization process, O'Brien reaffirmed the U.S.' commitment to advancing a regional peace program and its willingness to support the process, a statement on the Azerbaijani presidential website says.

O'Brien mentioned the importance of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the U.S. and spoke in favor of promoting bilateral ties to a strategic level. In this context, the two discussed regional cooperation, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and other matters.

Aliyev mentioned his recent phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during which they discussed a broad range of bilateral relations.

The parties praised Azerbaijan's role in ensuring Europe's energy security and discussed Azerbaijani-U.S. energy cooperation and ongoing consultations within the COP framework. The U.S. pledged to support Azerbaijan in successfully hosting COP29 in Baku in November 2024, it said.