Visit to the United States of America

Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva was on a visit to the United States of America, December 4-7, 2006.

A series of meetings held in USA

On December 4, Mehriban Aliyeva met, at the US Congress, with co-chairpersons of the task force for Azerbaijan, congressmen democrat Solomon Ortiz, republican Bill Shuster and group members Ed Whitfield and Vicente Fox. At the meeting, high-level relations between Azerbaijan and USA were noted, and discussions were held on a number of pressing issues, including solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Daghlyg Garabagh conflict, lifting Amendment No.907 to the Freedom Support Act, Azerbaijan’s geostrategic position and current condition in our country.

Mehriban Aliyeva met also with congressman Robert Wexler, who is going soon to embark on executing the position of chairman of the subcommittee of the US Congress for Europe and new threats.

Another meeting of Mehriban Aliyeva took place with the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation, former adviser for US National Security Affairs general Brent Scowcroft. During the meeting, perspectives of cooperation between the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation and  implementation of joint projects were discussed.

Within the framework of the visit to USA, Mehriban Aliyeva met also with representatives of Washington’s influential analysis and research centres, and universities. The meeting was attended by well-known scholars and public persons of US, including Suzan Eisenhower, Frederic Star, Swant Cornel, Angela Stand, James Baker, Rob Sohani, Roald Sagdeyev and Ariel Cowan.

Visit to the Walter Reed Military Centre and Washington Textile Museum

Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Walter Reed Military Centre and Washington Textile Museum. At the Textile Museum, the First Lady was informed of the joint projects being implemented with the Carpet Museum of Azerbaijan.

Meeting with Azerbaijani and American persons of art living in America

Mehriban Aliyeva met with Azerbaijani and American persons of art living in America at the Trade and Culture Centre under the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce.

Talking about the high-level relations between Azerbaijan and USA, Mehriban Aliyeva noted that there was a need for implementing projects aiming to promote Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage in America.

Meeting with US First Lady Lora Bush

On December 7, Mehriban Aliyeva met, in the White House, with US First Lady Lora Bush. At the meeting, the role of education, healthcare and culture in strengthening of Azerbaijan-USA relations was discussed.

Mehriban Aliyeva invited the US First Lady to visit Azerbaijan.

Meeting with US Senator Key Baily Hutchinson and member of the Congress Sheila Sekula-Gibbs

Mehriban Aliyeva met with US Senator Key Baily Hutchinson and member of the Congress Sheila Sekula-Gibbs

During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding concerning cooperation was signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Vital Voice nongovernment organization, co-chaired by Senator Hutchinson.

Meeting with Azerbaijani students studying in various states of America

At the Azerbaijani Embassy in USA, Mehriban Aliyeva met with Azerbaijani students studying in various states of America. Saying education-aimed projects were among priority matters in the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s activities, Mehriban Aliyeva talked about the works done by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in this respect.

A dinner –party in honour of Mehriban Aliyeva

A dinner-party was hosted by the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce at Washington’s Andrew Melon Auditorium in honour of Mehriban Aliyeva. Over 300 guests, including high-ranking officials of the White House and State Department, members of the US Congress, eminent political and public persons, and ambassadors of foreign countries accredited in USA attended the dinner-party.

At the dinner-party, Mehriban Aliyeva was presented the “Goodwill Ambassador of 2006” Award of the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce.

The ceremony continued with a concert of young performers coming from Azerbaijan.

Meeting with deputy US State Secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs Karen Hughes

Mehriban Aliyeva met with deputy US State Secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs Karen Hughes. The First Lady informed Karen Hughes of the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which she heads, in the humanitarian area. At the meeting, discussion was also held  about the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Daghlyg Garabagh conflict.

December 4-7, 2006