Speech of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev at the diner party in honor of the UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali - the Gulustan Palace, October 30, 1994

Ladies and gentlemen!

It is the second day of the visit of the UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to Azerbaijan. Today we had very significant and useful negotiations with Mr. Boutros-Ghali. Due to its results, I can conclude that the first visit of the UN Secretary-General to Azerbaijan is very fruitful and will yield important results for us in future.

Mr. Secretary-General, I welcome you on behalf of the Azerbaijani people in the Gulustan Palace. Your visit to Azerbaijan, which is the first visit of the UN Secretary-General to Azerbaijan for 49 years, is a great event in the life of our country. As I told you in our conversations, the Azerbaijani public is very interested in and cherishes great hopes on your visit. Our negotiations today allow me say that these expectations will yield results; after you get acquainted with our country and people closer, you will get more involved in our issues.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali, you are well known as a great political figure, diplomat and scientist worldwide. The Azerbaijani public is informed that you have gained great respect thanks to your deeds during your diplomatic and scientific career and your tenure as one of the leaders of the Egyptian Arabic Republic. Your activity as the UN Secretary-General is known worldwide and respected also in Azerbaijan.

One of the main duties of the United Nations is to create peace between the nations and help the world countries develop. Azerbaijan, which gained its independence three years ago, the needs aid of the United Nations. We want peace and stability to prevail overall in the world. Reaching peace and stability in our region, in the territory of Azerbaijan is the main duty both for our people and the world community. Having lived in martial conditions, suffered from big losses, lost a part of its territory during six years, the Azerbaijani people needs peace today. Every citizen in Azerbaijan desires peace, stability, restoration of our territorial integrity and good welfare for all mankind. In order to realize all these dreams, our people cherish great hopes in the United Nations. I do not doubt that you, as an experienced and noble person, will help Azerbaijan endure such a critical situation using all your opportunities.

The Azerbaijani people welcome you as a distinguished guest and friend; all the people here have attended this palace with such feelings. I welcome you once again, express my respect to you. I ask all you to give cheers to the UN Secretary-General, worldwide famous public and political figure, the friend of the Azerbaijani people Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

"Azerbaycan" newspaper, Novermber 1, 1994