Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Clinton makes fence-mending trip to Azerbaijan
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Clinton makes fence-mending trip to Azerbaijan
Reuters - 2 hours 7 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
By Arshad Mohammed
BAKU - Azerbaijan urged the United States on Sunday to help solve the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed its authoritarian government on human rights.
A U.S.-backed push for a rapprochement between Armenia and U.S. ally Turkey has hurt U.S. relations with the strategic and oil-rich country, which worries that its interests will suffer as a result.
Baku in April accused the United States of siding with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a largely Christian region which seceded from Muslim Azerbaijan and proclaimed independence after a war in the 1990s that killed some 30,000.
Hosting Clinton at his palatial summer residence on the Caspian Sea, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev made clear that his priority was Nagorno-Karabakh.
"This is a major problem for us and the major threat to regional security," Aliyev told Clinton as they sat beneath a chandelier in an airy, high-ceilinged room overlooking the sea.
"We want to find a resolution as soon as possible," he said, adding: "Our people are suffering."
As a result of the strains in the relationship, including the absence of a U.S. ambassador for more than a year, Baku threatened to "reconsider" its ties with the United States.
Strategically located between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan has been a key supply route for U.S. troops in Afghanistan but ties have been frayed by multiple issues.
While seeking to improve relations and make some headway on Nagorno-Karabakh, Clinton also pressed Azerbaijan to show greater respect for civil liberties and said she had raised the case of two jailed opposition bloggers.
In a news briefing with her Azeri counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov, Clinton said the United States was ready to help Azerbaijan and Armenia reach an agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh.
But she warned: "Ultimately the future of any one nation or the future of this region is up to the people themselves. They have to make the hard decisions."
"The United States cannot resolve the conflicts in this region but we can be a partner and a supporter and an advocate," she told the Azeri foreign minister.
Azerbaijan wants Nagorno-Karabakh back, if necessary by force. More than 15 years of mediation have failed to produce a final peace deal and the threat of war is never far away.
Last month, four ethnic Armenian troops and an Azeri soldier died in an exchange of fire near Nagorno-Karabakh.
GATES VISIT
Clinton is the second top U.S. official to visit Azerbaijan in a month, following Defence Secretary Robert Gates' early June trip designed to smooth ruffled feathers and to guarantee U.S. supply lines for Afghanistan.
Since 2001, military aircraft and supply trucks have crossed the country carrying U.S. and NATO forces and equipment to Afghanistan. The Pentagon wants to avoid problems that could slow Obama's 30,000-troop surge.
The strains ran so deep that Gates delivered a letter to Aliyev in June from U.S. President Barack Obama, who said he was aware of the "serious issues in our relationship" but was confident they could be addressed.
Speaking to civil society advocates, including bloggers, Clinton later said Azerbaijan had some way to go on respecting its citizens rights.
"While considerable progress has been made here, you know better than I there is work to be done," Clinton told about a dozen young Azeris. "There are still lots of challenges."
She told the Azeri foreign minister that the United States was "clear in encouraging and calling for more" progress in the area of human rights.
Clinton said she and Obama had received letters about two Azeri bloggers who were sentenced last year to two and two and a half years in jail after a violent incident in a cafe in which the bloggers say they were the victims of an unprovoked attack.
The incident happened shortly after video blogger Adnan Hajizade posted his latest tongue-in-cheek swipe at authorities, in which he held a fake news conference dressed as a donkey.
Charged with hooliganism and inflicting bodily harm, their imprisonment drew concern from the European Union and widespread criticism from rights groups, with Amnesty International saying the bloggers were convicted on fabricated charges.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Foreign sailors kidnapped in Nigeria freed: military AFP - 19 minutes ago
Dozen foreign sailors seized in Nigeria freed: military AFP - 1 hour 8 minutes ago
Mexico votes after blood-stained campaign AFP - 12 minutes ago
UK-World Summary Reuters - 28 minutes ago
Brazil's Rousseff and Serra tied in presidential race Reuters - 28 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Awesome Nadal crushes Berdych to win Wimbledon
Clinton presses Azerbaijan-Armenia peace efforts
US 'ready to help' Azerbaijan, Armenia on peace deal
ECB chief rules out risk of new recession
Deutsche Bahn plans to invest record $51 billlion
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Lady Gaga leads race to get 10 million on Facebook
Paris Hilton arrested after Brazil World Cup match: reports
Supertanker skims oil as spill now worst accident on record
Finland takes first place at wife-carrying championship
S.Africa judge drops drugs charge against Paris Hilton
More Most Viewed »
Aussie men shoot each other in buttocks 'to see if it hurts'
Amputee cat gets bionic legs
Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary
Who's right - the dolphin or the octopus?
Disgraced millionaire lobbyist takes pizza job
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 4 July 2010 New Afghan war commander set to formally take reins
Russian spy arrests came after threats to decade-long probe
Petraeus: 'We are in this to win' in Afghanistan
Afghan war at critical stage, says Petraeus
|
Finland takes first place at wife-carrying championship
Fuel tanker explosion kills over 230 in Congo
|
Petraeus formally assumes command in Afghanistan
Poland holds vote after president's air-crash death
Betancourt returns to Colombia 2 yrs after release
Gen. Petraeus takes command of US, NATO forces
Rail chaos in Paris after lightning cuts power
US plans grant to preserve Auschwitz death camp
Palestinian who planned Munich attack dies in Syria
|
Demonstrators in Spain protest new abortion law
Palestinian who planned Munich attack dies in Syria
DR.Congo tanker fire kills 200: Red Cross
Poles begin voting in tight presidential run-off
|
Iran pushes U.S. on missing scientist
Iran pushes U.S. on missing scientist
|
Supertanker skims oil as spill now worst accident on record
U.S. VP Biden visits Iraq amid election deadlock
Japan PM seeks vote win to avoid policy deadlock
|
Kyrgyzstan gets Central Asia's first woman president
Petraeus to formally assume command in Afghanistan
Venezuela says suspect plotted election violence
|
U.N. peacekeeper wounded in Lebanon clash
Otunbayeva sworn in as Kyrgyz interim president
|
Ahmadinejad calls sanctions against Iran pathetic
Mexican states to vote under shadow of drug war
|
U.N. peacekeeper wounded in Lebanon clash
|
China sentences another Tibetan environmentalist
Pakistan urchins swap streets for art
Philippine drive for massacre witness protection
Lockerbie bomber 'could live 10 yrs' with cancer
Howard praises India, pushes ICC presidency bid
Biden 'extremely optimistic' about Iraq's democracy
Fear in China's Urumqi city on riot anniversary
Global Weather-Celsius
Australia mining tax deal builds new PM's brand
New Afghan war commander appeals for unity
Australian PM's immigration vows
U.S., Poland sign missile shield pact on Clinton trip
Child suicide prompts India punishment debate
Calif. state workers brace for minimum wage
A walk on the wild side
Cadel Evans loses team-mate at Tour de France
Hollywood agent Ed Limato dies
Strike ends at Japanese electronics plant in China: report
Secrets of Mummies unraveled in California
Settlers worry about impact of Palestinian boycott
Explosion of joy in Madrid as Spain makes semis
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Hollywood agent Ed Limato dies
Indonesia proof that democracy, Islam can co-exist: minister
Tributes pour in for French film and theatre legend
Gays, lesbians show pride in European capitals
Million-strong Gay Pride party in London
New "Twilight" film eclipses box office rivals
New Twilight film eclipses box office rivals
|
Hollywood agent Ed Limato dies
|
PKK bombs Iraq-Turkey pipeline
Iran unveils human-like robot: report
Yemeni Shi'ites fire on troops, straining truce
|
Lebanon cleric, listed as 'terrorist' in US, dead
Israel grants wider powers to Gaza flotilla inquiry
|
Suicide bomber in government HQ in west Iraq kills 3
South African unions call off strike at Eskom
|
Israel grants wider powers to Gaza flotilla inquiry
Suicide bomber in government HQ in west Iraq kills 3
|
Four die in Iraq suicide bomb attack: ministry
Senior Lebanese Shi'ite cleric Fadlallah dies
|
US 'ready to help' Azerbaijan, Armenia on peace deal
Brazil's Rousseff and Serra tied in presidential race
|
Iran could halt uranium enrichment if given fuel: MP
ECB chief rules out risk of new recession
Foreign and Afghan forces kill 63 insurgents: interior ministry
|
Deutsche Bahn plans to invest record $51 billlion
Petraeus: 'We are in this to win' in Afghanistan
PKK bombs Iraq-Turkey pipeline
|
Villa, Klose star as Europe tighten World Cup grip
Afghan gov't: 63 drug smugglers, terrorists killed
West China city braces for deadly riot anniversary
|
Sumo wrestler and stable master fired in Japan
China mudslide toll at 42, with 57 missing: report
Spotlight on bank tests as ECB readies rate meeting
China's population to near 1.4 billion by 2015
India preens over new airport terminal
S.Korean leader orders illegal surveillance probe
Uighurs in Japan call for freedom in China
Biden marks Independence Day with troops in Iraq
Clinton makes fence-mending trip to Azerbaijan
New Afghan war commander formally takes reins
Azerbaijan seeks US help over regional conflict
Iran says it has 'evidence' scientist abducted by CIA
NY contest blends US love of hot dogs, competition
Police: NY man blows off arm with party fireworks
Taiwan's anti-China groups to rally against trade pact
Spain to get church for same-sex marriages: report
Last gasp for beer fest? Munich mulls smoking ban
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights