ID :
31439
Fri, 11/21/2008 - 14:07
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http://m.oananews.org//node/31439
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U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE HOLDS PRESS-CONFERENCE ON RESULTS OF HIS VISIT TO BAKU
Baku, 20 November,(AzerTAj)U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor David Kramer held Wednesday in Baku a press-conference on the results of his visit to Azerbaijan.
He expressed satisfaction with his visit to the country for the second time. Kramer said, as part of the trip, he had a wide range of meetings with government officials, religious experts, media representatives, parliamentarians, as well as civil society representatives.
He also thanked Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev for the reception.
He stressed “I certainly recognize the importance of the relationship between Azerbaijan and the United States.”
“In the meetings that I have had, discussions about freedom of the media, human rights and other things have been very much on the agenda,” the diplomat noted. Touching upon U.S.-Azerbaijan cooperation on democracy, Kramer said “the plan is to have regular engagement on these issues between our two governments and also between representatives of civil society.”
Kramer said: “I think that democracy and human rights issues will remain very
important on the agenda of the next President of the United States. I think the next
administration will recognize the value in the relationship between our two
countries, and will recognize the importance of human rights issues in the overall
relationship.”
According to him, there are efforts underway to develop independent institutions
including independent judiciary which is also very important for the country`s
democratic development.
He noted “democratic development is a long-term process. The United States has been
in this process for over 232 years, and even for a country with as longer history,
as democracy we have, we certainly are not perfect.”
The diplomat also said it would take time for comprehensive democratic development
in Azerbaijan - a country with only 17 years of experience of independence.
Kramer underscored Azerbaijan would develop on its own unique way and the United
States want to help it.
-0-
He expressed satisfaction with his visit to the country for the second time. Kramer said, as part of the trip, he had a wide range of meetings with government officials, religious experts, media representatives, parliamentarians, as well as civil society representatives.
He also thanked Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev for the reception.
He stressed “I certainly recognize the importance of the relationship between Azerbaijan and the United States.”
“In the meetings that I have had, discussions about freedom of the media, human rights and other things have been very much on the agenda,” the diplomat noted. Touching upon U.S.-Azerbaijan cooperation on democracy, Kramer said “the plan is to have regular engagement on these issues between our two governments and also between representatives of civil society.”
Kramer said: “I think that democracy and human rights issues will remain very
important on the agenda of the next President of the United States. I think the next
administration will recognize the value in the relationship between our two
countries, and will recognize the importance of human rights issues in the overall
relationship.”
According to him, there are efforts underway to develop independent institutions
including independent judiciary which is also very important for the country`s
democratic development.
He noted “democratic development is a long-term process. The United States has been
in this process for over 232 years, and even for a country with as longer history,
as democracy we have, we certainly are not perfect.”
The diplomat also said it would take time for comprehensive democratic development
in Azerbaijan - a country with only 17 years of experience of independence.
Kramer underscored Azerbaijan would develop on its own unique way and the United
States want to help it.
-0-
