The US State Department expresses disappointment that Azerbaijan has failed to ensure the security of American legislators within the framework of COP29. In response to the 'Lurer's' reporter's inquiry, the Spokesperson of the State Department stated:
"All governments hosting international events are expected to take seriously the protection of visitors to their country.
"The State Department does not provide additional information about the diplomatic dialogue with Azerbaijan," the statement said.
Congressmen Frank Pallone and Ed Markey, who participated in the conference, stated that the international conference in Baku was seen as an opportunity to promote peace, but the disappointment was not long in coming.
Frank Pallone (Member of the US House of Representatives (New Jersey)) - I think the State Department was also surprised that the situation escalated so quickly. It got to the point that during the conference, President Aliyev began to speak offensively against France and the Netherlands, as a result of which these countries did not participate in COP29. Before the conference, they intensified the pressure on human rights and arrested a large number of people. It was the exact opposite of what was expected.
Edward Markey (member of the US Senate, (Massachusetts)) - We had a press conference in Baku. About 50 journalists came. They asked a question about Nagorno-Karabakh. I answered that Azerbaijan should release the political prisoners, more than one hundred thousand Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh should have the right to return, and we should work more actively towards the peace treaty. After that, journalists surrounded me. They were not talking about the climate conference, but they were insisting on the approaches of the Azerbaijani Government. It is very clear that the Government of Azerbaijan controls the press, and we witnessed it.
