U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Azerbaijan on the third day of her tour of the South Caucasian states to promote peace and democracy in the troubled region.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated that the visit celebrated the 20th anniversary of U.S.-Azerbaijani relations, “… and through these years, we managed to establish a strong partnership and strategic cooperation in various fields, fields like energy, fields like security cooperation, combating terrorism, drug trafficking, humanitarian cooperation, and so on.”

Clinton’s visit to Azerbaijan on June 6 took place amid clashes along the frontline between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. The two neighboring countries involved in a conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region traded accusations of responsibility for the deadly border incidents. Five Azerbaijani soldiers were killed on June 5 in exchanges of fire between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops near the frontline between Tavush in Armenia and Gazakh (Qazax) in Azerbaijan, one day after three Armenian soldiers were reported killed in a border skirmish.

Clinton expressed concerns that the recent clashes could escalate into a much broader conflict: “I am deeply concerned about the danger of escalating tension, which could have unpredictable and disastrous consequences,” the U.S. Secretary of State stressed. “This cycle of violence and retaliation must end, and everyone should work to keep the peace and comply with the obligations under the 1994 ceasefire agreement.”

Together with Russia and France, the U.S. co-chairs the Minsk Group, set up by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe after the 1994 ceasefire in Karabakh to help resolve the conflict.

A meeting is planned for June 18 between Mammadyarov and his Armenian counterpart in Paris together with the co-chairs, aiming to bring impetus for a breakthrough in this longstanding conflict. “We will explore some new approaches that I have had the opportunity to discuss with the foreign ministers and with the presidents, because there has to be a solution,” Clinton said.

In her meetings with Azerbaijan’s president and foreign minister, Clinton focused on three key areas: security, energy, and democratic reform. On security, the Secretary of State expressed appreciation for Azerbaijan’s contributions in Iraq and Kosovo and its “vital” ongoing work in Afghanistan. “Azerbaijan is essential to the transportation of troops and nonlethal supplies that support the international effort in Afghanistan. Today, we discussed the continuing important role of the Northern Distribution Network and the importance of supporting the Afghan people after 2014 when they transition to full responsibility for security,” she stated at the news conference.

Russian media has speculated that one of the key issues discussed at the meetings was the state of relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. On June 7, an article in Kommersant titled “The United States verifies Azerbaijan’s neutrality” wrote that “if Washington decides to start military operation against the regime of ayatollahs, Baku’s help will be vital … the use of Azerbaijan’s military resources will allow the Pentagon to open a ‘northern front’ against Iran,” especially considering the aggravated state of relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. Azerbaijani authorities ensure they will try to keep their neutrality in the event of a conflict between the U.S. and Iran, while several analysts doubt that Baku will be able to maintain this option.

During the visit, Clinton briefly visited the 19th annual Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition, and stated that the U.S. supports Azerbaijan’s goal of establishing a southern corridor for natural gas exports to Europe, a crucial link that will “solidify Azerbaijan’s ties to the Euro-Atlantic community.”

Clinton also met with opposition activists, including Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, who was released from prison early for “good behavior” on June 4 after being convicted more than a year ago of draft evasion. The Harvard-educated Hajiyev was at the forefront of an Arab Spring-inspired wave of peaceful demonstrations in Azerbaijan. Hajiyev was arrested after he and other youth activists jointly posted an appeal on Facebook urging people to join anti-government protests.

“My arrest was politically motivated and my release should be politically motivated too,” Hajiyev told journalists after his release. He wrote a letter to President Ilham Aliyev from jail saying that his conviction was unjust. Last year, Hajiyev's mother wrote a letter to Clinton asking for her help in freeing her son from prison, where he suffered health problems. After his release, Hajiyev insisted he would not be deterred from continually pushing for a softening of the government's authoritarian rule. “In one form or another, I will continue my activities in the interest of creating a lawful, democratic state," he said.

Clinton pressed the Azerbaijani government to show greater respect for human rights during Baku visit. “The United States remains strongly committed to working with the government and people to advance respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. And we urge the government to respect their citizens’ right to express views peacefully, to release those who have been detained for doing so in print or on the streets or for defending human rights,” – she stated after meeting President Aliyev.

At the news conference alongside Clinton, Foreign Minister Mammadyarov said the government was doing its best to strengthen civil society, human rights and the rule of law. “Human rights cannot come over night,” he said. “It is a generational issue. It is a process.”