Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Robert newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the country, Robert Cekuta, the U.S. – Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce said Tuesday.

Cekuta presented his credentials as ambassador during a meeting with Aliyev. They discussed the current status between the U.S. and Azerbaijan and expressed their approval of relations between both countries.

They also discussed future opportunities for the expansion of regional cooperation on issues of counter-terrorism, security, transportation and energy.

Aliyev said he was confident that relations and opportunities stemming from U.S. and Azerbaijan cooperation would flourish under Cekuta's diplomatic tenure.

Cekuta previously served in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Energy Resources and Bureau for Energy and Business Affairs. He has also served in Tokyo and Berlin. While in Germany, Cekuta was involved in counter-terrorism activity while working as a counselor to the economy minister.