President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev received Zbignew Brzezinski - July 21, 1997


 

 

President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev received Zbignew Brzezinski, the advisor of the Center of the Strategic and International Researches of America, former advisor on national security to the US President, on July 21, at the Presidential Palace.

The head of our state expressed his satisfaction with the visit of the esteemed guest to Azerbaijan once again and said that sincere friendly relations have been established between him and Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani President as well. I highly appreciate it and said that these contacts are of great importance for the development of the contacts between the governments of USA and Azerbaijan.

Remembering the recent visits of Mr. Brzezinski to Azerbaijan with satisfaction, President Heydar Aliyev said that he accepted his advices in the past and they played a great role in the development of the contacts between the two countries. President of Azerbaijan stressed the special importance of the visit of Mr. Brzezinski to Azerbaijan on the eve of his official visit to the United States.

Thanking for the warm words, Mr. Brzezinski said that he was happy to visit Baku again and meet President Heydar Aliyev. He said he was his third visit to Baku and every time I am fascinated with the changes which had undertaken there. Talking about the upcoming visit of the President Heydar Aliyev to Washington, the guest emphasized that the President of Azerbaijan was expected there impatiently. Mr Brezinsky said: "Azerbaijan is a country of great importance and you are a prominent leader and its importance is well understood in America. That is why the US-Azerbaijani relations are important not only bilaterally, but are of regional and strategic importance. From this point of view, the present visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Washington is a next important step".

Speaking about his past meetings with President Heydar Aliyev, Brezynski said: "I profited much from talking with you. Because I know that you are well informed about the countries which are of importance for the USA, and I exactly know that President Clinton also will profit from talking to you. Although you met him several times so far, your further meetings will also be of great importance. Taking into account the meetings to be held with the members of the Congress, Mr. Brzezinski said that those meetings will be useful for the American-Azerbaijani contacts as well.

Expressing his satisfaction with the development of economic contacts especially, President Heydar Aliyev said that Azerbaijan did worthy works in the Caspian basin, rich in the energy resources and foreign investments were made by many, including American in this region thanks to Azerbaijan. The head of our state said that when the first oil contract was signed in 1994, some met it with wonder, others with suspicion. But the Caspian energy resources, construction of oil pipelines for delivering oil and gas to the world market is already discussed in the researches centers of the world, including the USA, although no less than three years have passed since its signature. President Heydar Aliyev said that he was satisfied with the fact that Azerbaijan, which first produced oil in the Caspian Sea, is going to lay the foundations of its joint exploration with the world companies.

Connected with the presence of Mr. Keller, representative of the "AMOKO" company, President Heydar Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has a long history of cooperation with this company and it was the beginning of the establishment of the economic contacts between the two countries.

Stressing the development of political contacts between Azerbaijan and the USA, , the head of our state reminded the activity of the USA for the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in the recent years. It was noted that its appointment as one of the OSCE Minsk Group members at the beginning of the year, shows its attitude to this issue. Heydar Aliyev appreciated the joint statement of the presidents of the USA, Russia and France, as a new step in the way of the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Saying that he held very important and promising talks with the US president Bill Clinton when he visited Madrid on July 8-9, the head of our state also said that the words of the American President on the settlement of the conflict encouraged him much and he was going to visit the United States with such a mood. It is very important to meet Brzezinski in this stage.

Sharing President Heydar Aliyev`s views on the American-Azerbaijani relations, Mr. Brzezinski said that these relations rise to a new stage. He said: We have so many features connecting us that I want to develop a new political theory. The relations between our countries are passing to a new phase and it directly concerns the problem of the Nagorno-Karabakh. I feel the interest towards this problem and in the high circles of the USA. Summarizing his views Mr. Brzezinski said the co-chairs of the Minsk Group is due to come to a common agreement, adding that the visit of the President of Azerbaijan to the United States was important from this point of view. Because the trio will strengthen its efforts more in this sphere. It is entirely clear that their positions have changed in comparison with the past.

 
AzerTAg
 
Translated from "Azerbaijan" newspaper, July 21, 1997