BAKU. March 29 (Interfax-Azerbaijan) - The United States will not open military bases in Azerbaijan, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told a news briefing at Baku airport on March 27.
Summing up the results of his visit to Azerbaijan, Armitage said he did not discuss the opening of military bases with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, because the U.S. does not have any such plans.
Armitage said he also met with the heads of six opposition parties.
Touching on the events of October 15-16, 2003, when Baku experienced unrest following the presidential elections, Armitage said human rights in Azerbaijan could have been better protected. He said there is hope that the situation will improve, and the country's leaders have assured him they will take the necessary steps in this direction.
The mass unrest in Baku was staged by followers of opposition presidential candidate Isa Gambar, who did not accept defeat in the elections. Some 163 policemen and 25 civilians were injured in the protests.