Meeting with Ilham Aliyev

On June 28, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan met with James O'Brien, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. During the meeting, O'Brien commended the recent discussions between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Aliyev, emphasizing the United States’ dedication to advancing regional peace and its readiness to support this process. He underscored the importance of Azerbaijan-US cooperation across various domains, particularly in enhancing strategic relations and promoting regional cooperation such as the Middle Corridor initiative.

President Aliyev recalled his recent telephone conversation with Secretary Blinken, highlighting its comprehensive discussion on various aspects of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the United States. He emphasized the longstanding and successful cooperation between the two countries across diverse fields since Azerbaijan's independence.

During their meeting, the parties also discussed Azerbaijan's role in ensuring energy security for Europe, emphasizing the ongoing energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States. They also noted the productive consultations between their delegations within the framework of the COP (Conference of the Parties).

James O'Brien assured President Aliyev of the United States’ commitment to supporting the successful organization of COP29.

Meeting with Jeyhun Bayramov

On the same day, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with James O'Brien. The discussions centered on bilateral and multilateral agenda items between the two countries, as well as the current status and future prospects of the bilateral normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, along with regional issues.

The importance of enhancing bilateral relations within the historical framework and mutual interests of Azerbaijan and the United States across various sectors was emphasized during the meeting. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov briefed O'Brien on the regional situation in the post-conflict period and the ongoing negotiations for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Azerbaijan reiterated its commitment to initiating key elements in the peace process to establish regional peace and stability.

Furthermore, Bayramov highlighted the importance of Armenia amending its constitution and refraining from territorial claims against Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and authority. He expressed concerns that Armenia's policy of militarization undermines peace and stability in the region.

Press statements

On June 28, James O'Brien highlighted Azerbaijan's pivotal role in transforming regional politics and establishing peace. During his visit to Baku, O'Brien emphasized the strong and effective partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan across various domains, noting that a significant part of his discussions in Baku focused on the regional situation. In his meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, they addressed several specific issues, particularly examining the regional context and the establishment of peace.

O'Brien stated that recent events enabled Azerbaijan to play a crucial role in changing regional politics, leading to the establishment of peace. He elaborated that this shift resolved a decades-long dispute between countries and created an opportunity to build peaceful relations for the future, benefiting the entire region. The US official also highlighted the potential economic benefits of regional cooperation, noting that collaboration among countries would improve security and facilitate the transportation of goods from Central Asia through Azerbaijan and then via Georgia and Armenia to global markets.

During a press briefing in Baku, O'Brien acknowledged Azerbaijan's role as a key supplier diversifying gas supplies to Europe. He noted that Azerbaijan provides natural gas to eight countries, with plans to add four more soon, which serves as an important buffer. He pointed out that European countries have significantly reduced their reliance on Russian gas, with many reducing it to zero. O'Brien explained that supply volumes are expected to decrease further when one of the southern pipelines from Russia to Moldova stops transiting Russian gas, depriving Russia of significant political leverage over Europe. He emphasized Azerbaijan's critical role in providing the resilience Europe needs during this transition, alongside liquefied natural gas supplies from the United States, Qatar, and other countries.

O'Brien highlighted Armenia's support for Azerbaijan's COP conference, Azerbaijan's release of captives, the commencement of border demarcation, and the return of four villages to Azerbaijan as significant steps in strengthening trust between the two countries. He acknowledged the challenges in achieving a lasting peace agreement due to the lingering scars of the war. According to O'Brien, the ongoing dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia is crucial because it transcends immediate political concerns; both parties aim to ensure that any agreement reached prevents future conflicts. He emphasized the recent border demarcation as a crucial advancement in this regard, indicating a commitment from both sides to continue despite internal political challenges. O'Brien underscored that trust between the parties would demonstrate the maturity of civil societies in both countries. Regarding Russia's involvement, O'Brien noted that while Russia is not directly engaged, prolonged delays in the peace process could prompt Russia to reengage and potentially obstruct progress. He stressed the importance of advancing the peace process amidst these conditions.

O'Brien addressed Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, stating that it does not hinder close and deep cooperation between Washington and Baku. He mentioned that while there is no current appetite in the US Congress to repeal Section 907, it allows for waivers, which have been provided by every subsequent administration when conditions warranted. He highlighted the strong working relationship between the US and Azerbaijan, especially in areas of security and cooperation, which Section 907 cannot impede. The diplomat noted that both countries have found effective ways to engage with each other.

Additionally, O'Brien announced that Azerbaijan has been invited to the upcoming NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Washington, DC, hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He voiced expectations that both Azerbaijan and Armenia, along with 30 partner countries, would participate.

O'Brien also expressed Washington's readiness to host a meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, emphasizing the focus on what would be most beneficial for both sides. He voiced hope that the foreign ministers would find an opportunity to meet soon, and if it happens in Washington, the US would be delighted to host them in whatever capacity it can.

Outlining a vision for enhanced cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States on regional security matters, O'Brien stated that the two countries are already collaborating effectively and voiced hope for further progress. He emphasized the importance of working on the Middle Corridor, with routes through both Georgia and Armenia, as a significant step forward. The US diplomat described this initiative as a powerful factor in building trust and awareness across the region and praised the recent border demarcation agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia as a crucial step forward.