On 1 August Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov started his first working visit to Washington at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. During the visit to last by 5 August the FM will hold meetings at the State Department, Pentagon, National Security Council and U.S. influential political centers, reported the 525 Baku newspaper. August 2 Mammadyarov held meetings at the State Department, including with C. Rice. However, a short statement by the Azeri FM allows concluding that the Karabakh issue was just the key one among the questions discussed. The Azeri FM said he was fully satisfied with the discussions, adding the talks were very useful. In his words, the US as a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group has promised to activate efforts for soonest peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. C. Rice underscored that the US stand in the issue is unchangeable - Washington advocates solution of the conflict "based on the territorial integrity principle." The talks also focused on wide spectrum of issues concerning bilateral and economic cooperation. The parties noted with satisfaction the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum projects. C. Rice emphasized Azerbaijan's leadership in implementation of global projects. E. Mammadyarov noted the importance of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway to Azerbaijan. August 2 E. Mammadyarov also met with OSCE MG US Ambassador Steven Mann. The conversation focused on the Karabakh peace talks. As it is known Armenian and Azeri Presidents are expected to meet in Kazan Russian town at the unofficial CIS summit. The Mammadyarov-Mann meeting again considered the settlement process on the eve of the meeting. Yesterday Mr. Mammadyarov held meetings in Pentagon and National Security Council. His visit to Pentagon resulted in various speculations in the Azeri and Russian print. It should be reminded that E. Mammadyarov paid a similar visit to Washington last summer, but he did not go to Pentagon. Thus some observers state that his visit to Pentagon aims at preparing Pentagon Chief Donald Rumsfeld's visit to Baku expected at the end of August. It is noted that the FM's visit in question and those to Pentagon becoming frequent evidence the US launching implementation of the plans to deploy its military base in Azerbaijan. There are also statements available that Azerbaijan's agreement to deployment of the base in its territory can result in significant mitigation of the Washington stance over the November election in Azerbaijan. It is stated that political bargain takes place between the US and Azerbaijan over these two issues, the newspaper notes.