Interviews US ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza.
Q: How do you assess the current state of the Azerbaijani-American relations?
A: I think our cooperation is very strong now in all spheres. In the very beginning, like 15 years ago, we focused our attention only on energy. But our cooperation since that has expanded in many spheres, including security and economic reforms. I do hope we will have investors in the spheres of transport, agriculture and information technologies. This means that our relations are not limited to energy, but are also deep in all spheres.
Q: By the end of the year the Senate is to view the issue of approving your candidacy. Do you think the law-makers will be able to overcome the resistance of the Armenian lobby and attain your approval?
A: I would rather abstain from commenting on this issue. It is about our Senate, for which I have a deep respect as an American citizen and it would be wrong to comment. I simply hope that the Senate will again consider my candidacy and vote.
Q: As for Karabakh conflict, what can be the role of the joint statement of the heads of delegations of the United States, Russia, France, Azerbaijan and Armenia adopted in Vilnius this week within the framework of the OSCE ministerial summit?
A: It is difficult to foresee. I took part in writing many of such statements. I know that these documents simply reflect the assessment of all co-chairs and ministers about the state of the process and actions to be taken. Certainly, I respect this statement and agree with it. And I do hope that if both sides pay attention to its content, this statement may promote good work in the sphere of monitoring on the contact front line.
Q: There is an opinion that over the past years the United States has significantly reduced activeness in solving problems of security in the South Caucasus overall and in Karabakh settlement in particular, where Russia is playing the most active role. How can you comment on this view?
A: As a US ambassador, I think that we are very active. I am active in Azerbaijan. As for co-chairs, I know their work and I appreciate it highly. Being familiar with the Secretary of State and the president (United States), I know that they pay attention to this region. It cannot be said that due to ‘overloading’ of relations of the United States and Russia, we do not pay much attention to the South Caucasus. If we were not really interested in it, my work would have been very boring. But in fact it is very interesting.
Q: By the way, which visits are expected from the United States to Azerbaijan soon?
A: We expect the soonest visit of the US general, the commander of the so-called TRANSCOM, which is part of Pentagon and which is responsible for the transport sphere worldwide. This visit is expected soon.
In addition, there will be other senior officials but this issue is so far being coordinated.
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