Stanley Escudero: Mr. President, I am fine. I am going to take a vacation for several weeks. Tomorrow morning, I am leaving Baku. I have some little business in Washington and then I will work for some time in Houston and Alaska. However, within this period, I will try to find time for the rest, too. Of course, I shall be missing Azerbaijan. But I shall come back on September 7. Mrs. Elizabeth Shelton will replace me in the embassy in my absence.

Heydar Aliyev: You are a lucky man, You have time and opportunity to take a break. Unfortunately, we do not have such an opportunity.

Stanley Escudero: Mr. President, it is the first such an opportunity after my arrival here in 1997. But You never take a vacation.

Heydar Aliyev: There is no such a possibility. I want, but it is impossible. Maybe, some day I shall have a chance to go on leave, too.

Stanley Escudero: I hope so. Mr. President, I hand to you the second letter within this week from Secretary of State, Mrs. Madeleine Albright as a sign of deepening and expanding relations and contacts between our countries. I shall hand this letter with Your permission.

Heydar Aliyev: Several days ago, I sent a detailed reply to the letter of Mrs. Madeleine Albright given by You, I disclosed my opinion concerning the issues she raised in her letter. I think the letter of Mrs. Madeleine Albright was very important as it included positions representing a great significance. I think I could also express in the reply my thoughts over these issues. Now, I receive a new letter. It is exactly, as You have mentioned, the display of deepening relations between the United States of America and Azerbaijan. I will get acquainted with the letter with pleasure. And I will certainly write a reply. I am very pleased that such regular contacts have been established between our countries. It is very important.

Stanley Escudero: Thank You very much, Mr. President. I appreciate that You have responded to the letter of Mrs. Albright. I must say that this letter has already been read in Washington, and it is accepted positively. We attach great significance to Your opinion and Your views over these issues. However, today’s letter covers a rather different subject. It is devoted to the Istanbul Summit of OSCE. As is known, this Summit will take place in four months. Mrs. Albright shares with You her thoughts about this Summit and advances proposals in her letter. We would undoubtedly be very pleased to get Your reply, to know Your opinion and see Your proposals in a reply letter. It is certainly a preparatory stage in its way to the Summit and at the same time, joint preparation of Azerbaijan and the United States of America to it is of great importance.

Mr. President, as You have mentioned, our contacts continue to grow and improve. It seems to me that it is important for the people and for both of us. Thank You very much once again that You receive the letter. We are looking forward to get Your reply.

Heydar Aliyev: It is a very important issue. You say that the letter is about the Istanbul Summit. It is of great significance for Azerbaijan.

We worked at the Budapest Summit in December, 1994, and achieved definite success. I think that we could also succeed at the Lisbon Summit of OSCE in 1996 and we should certainly come to a positive result regarding the solution of issues at the Istanbul Summit to be held in November, this year. I am very pleased that Mrs. Albright raises this issue already today. I will certainly express my opinion.

You said Mrs. Shelton would replace You.

Stanley Escudero: Yes, Mr. President, beginning from tomorrow and till September 7, she will replace me.

Heydar Aliyev: I congratulate You. You speak Azerbaijani well. Excellent. I am pleased that You focus such an attention on Azerbaijan. We have very businesslike and warm relations with Ambassador Escudero. I hope that You will follow the same line in the American embassy here. I congratulate You and wish You success.

The “Azerbaijan” newspaper, 24 July, 1999