US top diplomat congratulates Azerbaijan on Independence Day

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated the Azerbaijani people on Independence Day, Trend reports Tuesday, citing the US State Department.

"On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the Azerbaijani people on Independence Day. We value our relationship with Azerbaijan. Over the past 32 years, we have built a partnership based on mutual interests related to security and energy cooperation. We appreciate the opportunity to deepen our engagement in these areas, as well as on increasingly important global issues such as climate change and the transition to green energy. The United States welcomes COP29 to Baku, and we look forward to working closely with the government of Azerbaijan to ensure the success of COP and a more sustainable climate future for our children and grandchildren,” the congratulatory message reads.

Blinken notes that cooperation between the US and Azerbaijan will continue to go hand in hand with a commitment to Azerbaijan's democratic development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms under Azerbaijan's constitution.

"The United States applauds the work done to establish a lasting and dignified peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we remain committed to supporting these efforts, turning the page on a long-standing conflict, and building a better future. We are fully committed to this goal, which will improve connectivity and bring economic benefits to the entire region. On this important holiday in honor of Azerbaijan's independence, I reaffirm the United States’ support for Azerbaijan's independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty,” the congratulatory message reads.