Morningstar Outlines His Priorities in Azerbaijan

The new U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar arrived in Baku on the evening of August 28.  At the airport, he told reporters Azerbaijan is familiar to him, as that he has visited the country several times since 1995.

He noted his good memories of meetings with the late President Heydar Aliyev, the current President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Morningstar said he is looking forward to working with colleagues from the Azerbaijani government, to become more familiar with the country and its citizens, and solve the tasks set up.

"Azerbaijan is an important country. We attach great importance on Azerbaijan relations. We will seriously work towards regional stability, democracy, to combat terrorism, and energy issues, so that Azerbaijan becomes a strong, transparent and developed nation with an established market economy, so that Azerbaijan is not only dependent on energy, but has a diversified and strong economy," said Morningstar.

President Barack Obama proposed Morningstar’s candidacy for the post of U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan in April 2012, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate unanimously approved his candidacy. He replaces Matthew Bryza as U.S. Ambassador.

Morningstar previously served as U.S. Secretary of State Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy. Morningstar received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 1967. In 1970, Morningstar received a law doctorate after completing law school at Stanford University.

Morningstar and his wife Pierce have two sons, two daughters and six grandchildren. –0--