[ 03 Oct 2008 16:52 ]
Baku-APA. The conference on Energy Security and Diaspora in the Development of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Strategic Allied Relations, which was organized by USAN and State Committee on Works with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad came to an end, Press Service of the State Committee on Works with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad told APA.
About 300 Diaspora representatives attended the conference at University of George Washington. Former congressmen Greg Laughlin and Robert Livingston, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the US Yashar Aliyev, Elshad Nasirov, Vice President of SOCAR, Adil Bagirov, USAN Executive Director, Professor Tadeusz Swietochowski, Scientist on Azerbaijani Studies addressed the event.
Ariel Cohen, Senior Research Fellow of Heritage Foundation on former Soviet countries stated that irrespective of victory of any political parties in upcoming presidential elections in the US, White House would continue relations with Azerbaijan on strategic cooperation for the purpose of protection of regional interests.
On the second day of the conference, Valeh Hajiyev, First Deputy Chairman of State Committee on Works with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, MP Asim Mollazadeh, Agshin Mehdiyev, Head of Azerbaijan’s Mission to UN, Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijani Consul General to Los-Angeles spoke about the importance of close relations of Azerbaijani community with our country. Members of Network decided to strengthen relations with the Congress to gain broad support of the US on solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as current priorities of Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas, Waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act .
Appeals on our compatriots living in the US, American public communities, state bodies, presidential candidates and congressmen has been approved at the end of the conference. The appeals cover Azerbaijani realities, solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and the role of the US in this issue.