Azerbaijani President refused to back Washington in energy rush

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Vice President Dich Cheney wrapped up his Caucasus tour meant to strengthen Washington's positions in the struggle for Caspian energy resources.



However, his talks in Baku ended in failure. President Ilham Aliyev made it clear that Azerbaijan won't support energy routes bypassing Russia, Kommersant daily reports.



For the first time in Baku, Cheney was not met in the airport either by the Azerbaijani President or by Prime Minister. Aliyev did not hurry to receive the high-ranking guest, who was conveyed to the presidential apartments only in the evening.



According to sources in the president's administration, the talks were oppressive, although Aliyev and Cheney have been acquainted since the time when Cheney worked for Halliburton and Aliyev was vice president of Azeri state oil company (SOCAR).



The talks focused on the war in Georgia and Nabucco project. Sources say, Cheney informed Aliyev that the U.S. is going to further the Transcaspian gas pipeline bypassing Russia.



Far from it, Ilham Aliyev gave to understand that although he appreciates relations with Washington, he has no intention to fall out with Russia and to speed up Nabucco implementation.



Cheney, irritated by the results of the talks refused to attend a reception in his honor.



Ilham Aliyev's unwillingness to support Washington is quite understandable. Baku took the story with Abkhazia and South Ossetia as signal for all those wishing to join NATO.



On the eve of Cheney's visit, Aliyev had a phone conversation with Russia's Medvedev to discuss a possibility of a meeting in the near future.