Historical background to the document of "Conversation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev with Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Elizabeth II" (London, Buckingham Palace, July 21, 1998)


One of the historical and important meetings of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev was held with Queen Elizabeth II, during his second official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on July 19-24, 1998. It was the second meeting of the President of Azerbaijan with the British Queen.

Heydar Aliyev`s meeting with Elizabeth II didn`t take place during his visit to the United Kingdom on February 19-13, 1994, because of her travel abroad. They first met in celebrations on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Victory over fascism, held in London in May 1995. (Azerbaijan-Great Britain: Cooperation and Partnership (1991-2001), historical chronicle, Azerbaijan-Great Britain Youth Society, Abilov, Zeynalov and sons-2001, p.43.)

In his conversation with Elizabeth II, on July 21, 1998, Heydar Aliyev informed her of the general situation in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the problems experienced by the republic, Great-Britain-Azerbaijan relationship and the Armenian aggression. Heydar Aliyev said to Elizabeth II it was needed that the world community and influential state figures paid special attention to the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Elizabeth II said to the President of Azerbaijan that his activity in the sphere of juridical and democratic state building in Azerbaijan was closely observed. She thanked Heydar Aliyev for the conditions created in Azerbaijan for the British companies.

The head of the state of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev attended and gave a speech on the Azerbaijan-Great Britain relationship in the celebration party on the occasion of the national day of the United Kingdom, the birthday of the British Queen, on June 20, 2001. ("Azerbaijan" newspaper, June 21, 2001)

On April 21, 2006, The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of congratulation on the occasion of Queen`s 80th birthday. It was indicated in the letter that Azerbaijan attached a great importance to its relations with the United Kingdom. (http://www.today.az/)

Historical background was compiled on December 14, 2006.

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On July 19-24, 1998, Heydar Aliyev paid the second official visit to the United Kingdom. During the visit Heydar Aliyev met Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and discussed issues of mutual interest.

The Queen noted that her country followed with an interest the ongoing works in Azerbaijan in the sphere of legislation, democracy and building a secular state.

“90 Instants of the Great leader”, Heydar Aliyev Heritage research center, “Sharq-Qarb”, Baku-2013, p.126