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Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)
Citizens Discuss US-Azerbaijan Relations with US Ambassador Online
Ambassador Derse (center) fields participants'
questions during an online forum from the US-
Azerbaijan Education Center in Baku, Azerbaijan
On February 23, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse visited the US-Azerbaijan Education Center in Baku to answer questions from Azerbaijani citizens in an online forum with students, journalists, refugees, and representatives of government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Participants accessed the forum from IATP access sites and Regional Library Information Centers (RLIC) across Azerbaijan.
The online forum showed the vast interest in US-Azerbaijan relations as it collected nearly 200 postings from citizens touching on various aspects of US-Azerbaijan relations, including US policy in Azerbaijan and US assistance for education, the military, civil society, regional development, and business. For one hour, the Ambassador answered questions regarding US policy, the political and economic situation in Azerbaijan, youth development, religion, and Azeri culture. Pakize Qulieyeva, a 15 year old girl from Gebele, asked, “As the US Ambassador, which fields in the development of Azerbaijan will you influence more?” Derse replied, “I think that economic and political reforms in Azerbaijan will influence the development of the country. Azerbaijan is a country with talented and hardworking people. Appropriate use of energy resources will improve living standards of people and can bring bright future of the country.” She added, “Economic reforms will lead to open and strong economy and creation of new jobs. Political reforms could ensure Azerbaijan’s achievement of its goal to become a democratic state, as Azerbaijani people want it, and participation of people in government. As a partner and friend of Azerbaijan we support these goals.”
ANS TV and ATV in Baku broadcast a short report about the event during the evening news. Zerkalo newspaper and several online news sources such as Khabar News Portal published articles about the forum. Due to the online forum and subsequent media coverage, thousands of Azeri citizens heard about US policy from the country’s most reliable source. IATP frequently organizes online forums with US Embassy officials on a variety of topics, helping them discuss and clarify aspects of its mission with people throughout the country.
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