Baku News

08-01-2006 - Regnum News - Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov met with the newly-appointed US Ambassador to the country Anne Derse, REGNUM correspondent reports referring to the parliamentary press office. Asadov said during the meeting that due to the efforts of the heads of states relations between the countries reached the level of strategic partnership. According to him, development of the relations is a priority for the Azerbaijani leadership headed by President Ilham Aliyev. "The fact that the US supported projects of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline, as well as other big projects, is highly appreciated in Azerbaijan," he noted. In her turn, Derse stated that US Congress is interested in establishing relations with an independent and strong parliament. "These relations are one of the main conditions of democratic development," the ambassador remarked. Derse highly evaluated protection of human rights and freedoms, as well as democratic development in Azerbaijan. The sides also exchanged opinions on other questions of mutual interest.