President Ilham Aliyev has received the Deputy Assistant US Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Eric Rubin.

The Deputy Assistant US Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Eric Rubin, expressed his satisfaction with the visit to Azerbaijan. He said he was visiting Azerbaijan on the instruction of the US President and Secretary of State. He congratulated the President on Azerbaijan’s election to the UN Security Council and the country’s victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. Rubin expressed hope for a further expansion of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the USA on the existing foundation in 2012.

Stressing that last year was important for Azerbaijan, the President noted the significance of celebrating the 20th anniversary of independence in 2011. President Aliyev expressed hope that 2012 would see good results in the further expansion of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the United States. The President expressed his gratitude to the US President and Secretary of State for their attention to the development of relations between the two countries.

The sides exchanged views on ways of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States in various fields in 2012.