POLITICS
ROBERT ZOELT, PRESIDENT OF THE CENTER OF STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHES IN WASHINGTON: “INVALUABLE ARE THE MERITS OF HEYDAR ALIYEV IN ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN SUCH VERY INTENSE REGION, AS THE CENTRAL ASIA”
“In 1993, Mr. Heydar Aliyev has been elected as the President of the Azerbaijan Republic, and the last year has been re-elected on this post. All of us well know that Heydar Aliyev’s merits in the establishment of peace and stability in such very intense region, as the Central Asia are invaluable. We should know and that during present visit of President Aliyev to the US signing three new contracts with the American companies is provided. The contracts providing investments more than 40 billion dollars in use of rich power resources of the Caspian were signed. We well know and that President Heydar Aliyev perfectly knowing about presence of rich oil stocks and about negative effects determined for the country of their use, is engaged in acceptance of additional measures on development of other branches of economy and the infrastructure in Azerbaijan, attraction to this business of investments.
President Aliyev has explained his position in connection with the events in Kosovo. Certainly, all of you know, that as a result of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict more than one million citizens have abandoned their native homelands and are living in position of refugees. In spite of the fact that President Aliyev has undertaken certain risk concerning the neighbors, he acting with courageous statements, has condemned the atrocities made in Kosovo and has acted as the supporter of granting to the population of Kosovo of the right for self-governance. Aliyev being the President of the country, located in very intense region, is the close friend of the United States. We are rather satisfied that today he is with us”.
April 1999.