US top diplomat to visit Azerbaijan for normalization talks

US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James C. O’Brien will travel to Baku, Azerbaijan and Bucharest and Tulcea, Romania, December 6-8. 

"In Baku, O'Brien will meet with Azerbaijani officials on strengthening bilateral relations and supporting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia," Caliber.Az reports, citing the US State Department press service.

During a telephone conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on November 28, US Secretary of State Blinken asked for permission for O'Brien's visit to Azerbaijan in December to normalise relations. President Ilham Aliyev agreed to this proposal with one condition, that after this visit, the unjustified ban on visits of high-ranking Azerbaijani officials to the United States would be lifted. Blinken accepted this condition.