BAKU (News.az)—Azerbaijan is looking for alternative means to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and no longer sees US participation in peace talks as necessary, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s spokesperson, Ali Hasanov, told reporters Friday.
Hasanov said the leadership and people of Azerbaijan are “taking all relevant steps in the direction of more effective ways for resolving the Karabakh conflict.”
“In particular, the negative public opinion is being formed in the country regarding the US activity in the OSCE Minsk Group as a co-chair, because this activity is of no use to Azerbaijan”, Hasanov said.
“The United States must be cautious in its peacekeeping actions”, Hasanov said. “The Azerbaijani public is strongly concerned with the recent steps of the United States.
“On the one hand, Washington considers Azerbaijan its strategic partner,” he said. On the other hand, we do not see serious steps for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict on the US part.”
“The United States is currently trying to put Armenia out of the grave socioeconomic situation as the latter is isolated from all transnational projects in the region because of its occupational policy,” Hasanov said. “Therefore, no one should be condemned for the anti-American speeches in Azerbaijan.”
The official also commented on the absence of a US ambassador in his country. “The appointment of the ambassador in Azerbaijan is the internal affair of the United States”, he said, responding to questions on the matter. “We consider that acting ambassador Donald Lu is an experienced diplomat and he can also be appointed the ambassador.” he said.
