BAKU: Jonathan Henick: The U.S. Appraises Visit Exchange By Azerbaij

JONATHAN HENICK: THE U.S. APPRAISES VISIT EXCHANGE BY AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 29 2007

"The United States appraises the exchange of visit by Azerbaijani and
Armenian intellectuals. We regard that there should be more contact
between these two countries," the US Embassy public affairs officer
Jonathan Henick told the APA.

"We regard that such visits, relations between the journalists would
reduce the tension over the conflict. That is a good step, such visits
would help reach a peaceful solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,"
the Embassy officer said.

The diplomat saying that mutual visits of Azerbaijani and Armenian
intellectuals were not held on the initiative of OSCE Minsk Group
stated that such steps should be approved in any case.

"Since the Presidents and Foreign Ministers negotiate why not
representatives of other strata of the society maintain contact?" he
concluded.