Historical background to the document "Talk of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev while receiving the President of the Soros Fund George Soros" (May 29, 2003)

George Soros, born in Hungary in 1930, is the president of the private investment management firm serving as an advisor to Quantum Groups Fund. George Soros finances network of funds acting in 31 countries of the Central and Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union, central Eurasia, South Africa, Haiti, Guatemala and Europe.These funds serve for establishment and subsidization of infrastructures and institutions of open society.

Soros funds are network of funds and program institutions for support of development of open societies found and financed by Gorge Soros in the world, mainly Central and Eastern Europe.(http://www.gitc.aznet.org/).

In May 2003, the famous businessman and philanthropist George Soros visited Baku in order to participate at the conference held by the Baku representative of Soros Fund on "Caspian oil revenues: losers and winners" and to meet the Azerbaijani authorities. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev received the famous guest. During the meeting George Soros stressed that Azerbaijan could be an example for the entire world for transparency which it created in the sphere of oil industry. President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev thanked him for the activity of The Soros Fund in Azerbaijan. At the same time he stressed the importance of allocation of its funds for the refugees: "You have contributed $ 7 million to Azerbaijan since your activity here. A great part of this sum was assigned for various NGOs as grants. I`d like that at least 60-70 percent of those grants to be allocated to the refugees. They live in very hard conditions".

On January 25, 2007, George Soros once again visited Azerbaijan. He was received by President Ilham Aliyev. George Soros expressed his ideas about the current processes and development prospects of Azerbaijan and said he was satisfied with all of it.

During the meeting they also exchanged views about the major directions of the foreign policy of Azerbaijan, especially energy security issues in Europe and Eurasia. Some regional issues were discussed as well. President Ilham Aliyev talked about the activities in the sphere of education and elimination of poverty.

Highly appreciating the continuation of the works in this direction, George Soros said he wished to cooperate with the government of Azerbaijan.

Historical background was compiled on November 27, 2007.