BAKU -- Visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Tina Kaidanow met with Azerbaijani officials and representatives of nongovernmental organizations in Baku, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.
Baku-based political observer Hikmet Gadjizade told RFE/RL that at the meeting with NGOs on October 23 Kaidanow discussed democratization, human rights, and freedom of speech and the media, as well as the case of the detained Azerbaijani bloggers.
According to Gadjizade, Kaidanow stressed at the meeting that Washington is monitoring the democratization process and will be assisting with any problems.
Kaidanow also held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
This is Kaidanow's first visit to Azerbaijan since taking her post in August.
Kaidanow also visited Armenia this week, where she held talks with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian.