US state department chief adviser to arrive in Azerbaijan

The spokesman for the US Department of State, Ned Price, has said that new US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Louis L. Bono will make his first visit to the region next week, including Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.

“This is the first of what we will – what we expect will be regular travel to all three countries of the South Caucasus. Bono plans to meet with senior leaders to support the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process and our sustained commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. As I mentioned before, he will visit all three South Caucasus countries as part of his visit. He’ll travel to Baku, to Yerevan, Tbilisi as well, in that order,” he said at a briefing, according to the US Department of State's website.

"This, we believe, will be an opportunity for Mr. Bono to build on the meeting between Secretary Blinken, Armenia’s prime minister, and Azerbaijan’s president at the Munich Security Conference a couple of weeks ago now, in mid-February," Price added.

He also said that "we are encouraged by recent efforts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage productively on the peace process. And Mr. Bono helps to – hopes to be in a position to build on that effort, and to see that progress continue. In all three of these cities, Mr. Bono will emphasize the United States is committed to promoting a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for the South Caucasus region".