Speech of President of the Azerbaijan Republic Heydar Aliyev at the official reception, given in his honour by Douglas Henderson, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - London, July 20, 1998


Dear Mr. Minister

Dear ladies, gentlemen and friends

I greet you with all my heart and want to express my deep satisfaction with the official visit to the United Kingdom.

Friendly connections and cooperation between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan have its history. When our republic gained independence in 1991, the United Kingdom was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan. In March, 1992, diplomatic relations were established between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan. In 1993, the embassy of the United Kingdom was opened in Azerbaijan and in January, 1994, the embassy of our republic was opened in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

As the President of Azerbaijan, I first arrived in the United Kingdom with an official visit in February, 1994. A number of important documents regarding the establishment and development of relations between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan were signed during that visit. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and I, the President of Azerbaijan signed a joint statement on friendship and cooperation between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan. A number of other agreements on cooperation in the field of energetics, tourism, telecommunication, as well as regarding economic issues and other fields were also signed between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan. Since that time, 14 intergovernmental treaties, agreements and memorandums have been signed between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan. A part of them was signed in London and the rest - during an official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan. Thus, sufficient number of legal documents has been signed and a basis for the development of cooperation between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan has been created.

I think that our cooperation was successful in all the fields within the past years. Having accepted this invitation with great satisfaction, I have started today my official visit to London, the United Kingdom.

I think the forthcoming meetings and documents to be signed these days will raise the development of relations between our countries in all the areas to a higher level in the future.

We signed preceding documents with the former government of your country. Last year, a new government of your country was formed. I am highly satisfied that our contacts with the new government also continue. For me, as the President of Azerbaijan, it is very essential to make personal contacts with the new government, the new Prime Minister, Ministers and all the government members.

I consider my meeting and negotiations with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, scheduled for tomorrow, very important. Undoubtedly, my meeting with the Queen of the United Kingdom will be an historical event. My meetings with Ministers, the government bodies and the heads of companies will also help us to the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom in all the fields.

Esteemed Minister, I fully agree with your opinion that the relations between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom should be developed in all the areas. However, further development of our cooperation in political field is very important. I think, these days, we will focus very serious attention on these issues, held exchange of views and find opportunities for proper development of our work in these areas in the future.

I am highly satisfied that I can see here Mr. Terry Adams and Mr. Richards, with whom I met several years ago and established good relations. I am also very glad of the acquaintance with new friends. At the same time, I consider my today`s meeting with you to be very important. I estimate very highly your desire to come to Azerbaijan. I invite you to visit Azerbaijan.

These days, we can undertake important steps on the development of relations between the parliament of the United Kingdom and the parliament of Azerbaijan. The members of Azerbaijan parliament are also among the persons accompanying me. Some of them are present at this meting.

I express my gratitude to you for today`s meeting. I think these discussions will provide a good basis for our work, which we will accomplish these days.

I ask you to raise your glasses in honour of the Queen of the United Kingdom. In honour of the government of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister, Ministers, You and our friends, present here.

"Bakinskiy rabochiy" newspaper, 31 July, 1997

"Heydar Aliyev: Our independence is eternal" (reports, speeches, statements, interviews, letters, addresses and decrees) Azerb.publishing, vol. 16, pp. 303-305