Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received a U.S. delegation on January 4, comprising notable American legislators. The delegation included Markwayne Mullin, a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and Republican Senator from Oklahoma; Jason Smith, a Republican member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means from Missouri; Ronny Jackson, a Republican member of the House of Representatives from Texas; and Jimmy Panetta, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives and House Committee on Ways and Means from California.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the delegates expressed their gratitude for the reception and remarked on the impressive development processes they observed in Baku. They extended congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev regarding the progress made in Washington on advancing the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
President Aliyev conveyed his gratitude for the congratulations and described the agreements reached as historic. He highlighted the role of U.S. President Donald Trump in these developments, emphasizing Azerbaijan’s commitment to promoting regional peace. He noted that trade relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been initiated, with Azerbaijani oil products being exported to Armenia and wheat from Kazakhstan and Russia reaching Armenia through Azerbaijan. President Aliyev expressed optimism that the TRIPP corridor would enhance regional transport connectivity.
The President also addressed Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, labeling it as unjust and outdated in light of current bilateral relations. He praised President Trump’s decision to suspend its enforcement and expressed hope that Congress members would strive to completely abolish it.
During the meeting, both parties acknowledged the positive trajectory of U.S.-Azerbaijan relations and discussed potential avenues for expanding cooperation in various sectors, including political, economic, energy, defense, education, information technologies, and artificial intelligence. They also considered opportunities for collaboration between the legislative authorities of the two countries.