US ambassador bids farewell

As the end of his tenure as US ambassador draws near, Ross Wilson has been saying his goodbyes in a round of meetings with senior figures in Azerbaijan.

At a final news conference at the Nizami Hall of the Hyatt Park Hotel of Baku on Monday, Mr. Wilson recalled that Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev had appreciated his diplomatic activities, awarding him with Azerbaijan's highest state award, Order of Honor, for his outstanding contributions to strengthening of bilateral relations within a year and a half. The American diplomat stressed that the US government attached great importance to Azerbaijan's support for maintenance of peace and security in the world.

Expressing his satisfaction with the implementation of energy projects during his tenure, the pace of economic reforms and democratic steps, Mr. Wilson regretted that he failed to do his best to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Upper Qarabag peacefully.

Having completed his diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan, Mr. Wilson is expected to work for the US independent trade organization as a mediator for Latin American countries. He will be replaced by Rene Harnish, who is to take office late in summer. Mr. Harnish is currently heading the US diplomatic mission in Kosovo.

Final meetings

In a meeting on Thursday Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliyev praised the US ambassador for his important role in the expansion of bilateral relations and bridging the gap between the two countries' people, voicing confidence on further development of bilateral relations.

Thanking the Azeri leadership for the efficient bilateral cooperation during his diplomatic activities, Mr. Wilson voiced his confidence on further strengthening of the two-sided links.

The US envoy went on to say that he had witnessed the development of the Azerbaijani people and statehood in the course of his mission in Baku, and he was pleased to see Azerbaijan's integration to democracy and the West. Mr. Wilson also stressed Azerbaijan's stance in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as its participation in the coalition to combat against terrorism, adding that the United States highly appreciates the country's efforts in this direction.

Later, the US ambassador met Chairman of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA-reformers wing), MP Ali Karimli at the party headquarters.

Expressing his content with the development of the relations between the two countries and work done during his diplomatic activities in Azerbaijan, the US envoy said he would leave the country as a friend. Ambassador Wilson also underlined that he would do his utmost to cause the people around him to closely get familiarized with Azerbaijan and its problems.

The two men also focused on the perspectives of democratization process in Azerbaijan and provision of free and democratic presidential elections scheduled for October of this year.