Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has held a meeting with Abraham Hamade, a member of the US House of Representatives, who is currently on a visit to Azerbaijan.
This was reported to the Operative Information Center-OMM by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the current state and development prospects of Azerbaijan-US bilateral relations, regional and international security issues, energy security, transport and communication links, as well as the situation in the South Caucasus in the post-conflict period.
Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the importance of the summit held in Washington last August for bilateral and regional relations, noting that the historic agreements reached during the summit serve to elevate relations between the two countries to a qualitatively new level. It was stated that the Strategic Partnership Charter signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States of America provides a crucial foundation for further expanding cooperation in areas such as political dialogue, economic cooperation, energy security, and general security.
Furthermore, it was noted that the first-ever Azerbaijan-US Economic Cooperation Dialogue had been held, resulting in the signing of 10 cooperation documents covering trade, investment, energy, transport, digital development, and other sectors.
The meeting highlighted the importance of implementing the TRIPP project, which will serve to strengthen transport and communication links in the region and create unimpeded connections between the main part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
While discussing future development prospects for Azerbaijan-US relations, the importance of removing restrictions on bilateral cooperation was emphasized. In this context, it was noted that the complete repeal of the 907th amendment, which restricts US government assistance to Azerbaijan, would align with the spirit of the strategic partnership between the two countries and contribute to further expanding cooperation in security, energy, transport, economics, and regional stability. It was stated that the amendment reflects an outdated approach that is inconsistent with current geopolitical realities and the level of the Azerbaijan-US partnership.
Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov detailed Azerbaijan's long-standing contributions to the energy security of Europe and the wider region, highlighting the country's projects in the field of green energy alongside traditional energy resources. The vast potential for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US in this direction was underscored.
The strategic importance of Azerbaijan's relations with Central Asian countries and the country's admission as a full member to the Central Asian Consultative Meeting was emphasized, noting the broad opportunities for cooperation in the C6 format.
The normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia was also discussed. The Minister provided detailed information regarding the normalization process and the restoration and reconstruction work being carried out in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.
The parties also exchanged views on other regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Context: The TRIPP project (Transport, Regional Integration, and Prosperity Project) is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity across the South Caucasus. The 907th amendment, enacted by the US Congress in 1992, has long been a point of contention in bilateral relations, with Baku consistently advocating for its repeal to reflect the current strategic depth of the Azerbaijan-US partnership.
