SECRETARY CLINTON VISITS AZERBAIJAN: RELATIONS ARE “DEEP, IMPORTANT, AND DURABLE”
On July 4 U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid an official visit to Azerbaijan. She became the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit Azerbaijan in 18 years
Secretary Clinton was received by President Ilham Aliyev.
Energy and security cooperation between the two countries, as well as the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were the major topics of discussions in Baku.
At a joint press conference with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov dedicated to the outcomes of the visit, Secretary Clinton praised the bonds between Azerbaijan and the U.S. as “deep, important, and durable”. “Our soldiers have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. And we deeply appreciate the commitment and sacrifice of the people and government of Azerbaijan, as we continue these important missions. Today the President and I discussed the ways of the deepening of this partnership”, the Secretary said.
“We continue to support the efforts that are undertaken by the government to expand and protect free expression and independent media…We believe that there has been a tremendous amount of progress in Azerbaijan. But as with any country, particularly a young, independent country like this one, there is a lot of room for improvement. Since it’s the Fourth of July, I should say that when we began our journey toward freedom, independence, and democracy 234 years ago, we had a very long road that we are still not yet at the final destination,” Secretary Clinton said in response to a question on democracy and human rights protection.
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AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE DELEGATION TRAVELS TO AZERBAIJAN: “AZERBAIJAN IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT COUNTRY”
On July 4-5 an American Jewish Committee (AJC) leadership delegation led by the Committee’s Executive Director David Harris paid a visit to Azerbaijan
The 11-member delegation was received by President Ilham Aliyev. The delegation also met with Chairman of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (Parliament) Oqtay Asadov, Deputy Foreign Minister Vaqif Sadiqov and other officials.
This was AJC’s second trip to Azerbaijan in the past two years. The first visit took place in August 2008. Earlier, in January 2008, AJC leadership met with President Aliyev on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. At that meeting, President Aliyev invited AJC to pay a visit to Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijan is a critically important country,” said David Harris following the visit. “We were delighted to be there at the same time as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a month after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, underscoring Washington’s deep interest.”
“It is important for Americans to understand the key role that Azerbaijan today plays in our nation’s counter-terrorism efforts, energy security, and military operations in Afghanistan,” added Harris. “And Jews and friends of Israel need to be aware of the long and rich history of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan, and of the country’s close and mutually beneficial ties with Israel.”
“We were very warmly and graciously received by our Azerbaijani hosts,” Harris said. “Given the importance we attach to Azerbaijan, we shall look forward to our next visit and to frequent contact in between.”
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ARMENIAN OCCUPATION COSTS USD 87 BILLION
According to Ali Hasanov, Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the total amount of damage suffered by the country due to the occupation of its territories by Armenia is estimated at 70 billion manat ($87 billion)
He said the amount of damage and the total cost will be reevaluated after Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories ends and all Azerbaijani IDPs return to their previous homes in Karabakh.
Hasanov said a large number of lawsuits by Azerbaijani IDPs against Armenia have been filed with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
He added that the Azerbaijani government is expected to increase spending from the State Oil Fund on the resettlement of IDPs. “The State Committee was ordered to start the resettlement of IDPs from dormitory rooms and to build a new settlement in Aghdam,” Hasanov said. “With all of the new projects the overall budget spending for IDPs will exceed $100 million in fiscal year 2010. Every single displaced family will be considered.”
As a result of the occupation, around 750,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 adjacent districts in 1992-1993.
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AZERBAIJANI RECEIVES U.S. PRESIDENT’S EDUCATION AWARD
Mehdi Huseynov, an eighth-grade student of the Gunston Middle School in Arlingon, Virginia, and a son of an employee of Azerbaijan’s Embassy to the U.S., has received the President’s Award for Educational Excellence signed by President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
The President’s Education Awards Program was developed to recognize and honor students who have achieved high academic goals through hard work and dedication to learning. To be eligible for the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, students must meet the requirements of having a grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale. Since 1983, the program has provided individual recognition from the U.S. President and Secretary of Education to those students whose outstanding efforts have enabled them to meet challenging standards of excellence.
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