Speech of the Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev at the official reception held on the occasion of the national holiday - the 226th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America - July 4, 2002

Dear mister chairman!

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

I heartily congratulate you on the occasion of the national holiday - the 226th anniversary of the declaration of Independence of the United States of America and express my best wishes to you and all American people.

There are countries which have great history. There are countries which have lived for hundred, thousand years and live. The United States of America is not an old country in comparison with them. While gaining its independence, the people of the United States of America making use of the democratic values of the world, especially of the Europe, has established more valuable state. This is a state which sets examples for the peoples and countries of the world in different fields since its foundation until now. From the historical point of view, the United States of America has developed and turned into a superpower of the world for a short period. It is not necessary to analyze its reasons. It is well-known to everyone. But, I just want to say that together with all reasons, when the Independence declaration of the United States of America was declared, it was written so wisely that on the basis of it the country could make use of all its potentials and develop rapidly.

During the history of the United States of America, the country itself has rapidly developed and influenced on the development of other states of the world in this direction for the development of democracy, securing of human rights, observing and ensuring of standards of law, equality of people and other principles.

Nobody doubts in the world that the United States of America is a country living always with democratic values and has great economic potential and advanced in all spheres. The United States of America, setting an example of its way to many people living in some continents, regions of the world and supporting those people, directs them to develop on the way of progress and democracy.

When Azerbaijan gained its state independence, it immediately considered the United States of America as a friendly country for itself and counted necessary to make contacts to benefit of this country. The idea which has involved our people to go on this way was not merely to have economic relations with such a big country as the United States of America. But it was the idea that our people could profit by the universal values of the United States of America and our country could go always along the way of progress and democracy as an independent state.

Our friendship has continued and for the last years and we have never allowed these relations with the United States of America be weakened or violated. These relations have provided the establishment of broad and useful economic co-operation between various companies of the United States of America and Azerbaijan.

Five years ago, at the end of July and in the beginning of August of 1997, when I paid an official visit to the United States of America, our desires, intentions, and relations found its reflection in my meetings and, finally, on the documents signed with the president and other official persons of the United States of America.

I would like to bring a minor exactness to a thesis in the speech of mister ambassador. The incidents of the September 11 has not brought us together with the United States of America, in other words, there was no need for it. The incident of the September 11 demonstrated just the loyalty of the people and state of Azerbaijan to the ties of friendship and cooperation, which have been established in past years with the United States of America.

The incident of the September 11 has shaken and excited the whole world. Because till now such a terrible terrorist action has never been seen in the world. The United States of America was forced to fight against the terrorism and did so. At this time, the people and state of Azerbaijan immediately declared that it was in the same alliance and coalition with the United States of America, and therefore it was ready to carry out all prompt actions laid on us in this field.

It is known that the purpose of the struggle against the international terrorism and more serious, resolute operations of the United States of America was not only aimed to revenge the terrorists and terrorist groups, who attempted upon the American people. It declared the whole world how the terrorism was dangerous for humanity. The US began operations to liquidate this danger not only for American people but also on the entire Earth. We consider it to be a just fight. I note again that the United States of America carries out this fight in order to liquidate terrorism, narcotics and similar things which have been spread in some regions of the humanity, world and to free the peoples, nations from these misfortunes.

Considering this a just action, from the very beginning we are in the coalition with the United States of America and we have implemented our duties which we have pledged and we will do it henceforth as well. The international terrorism is very dangerous. But at the same time, the United States of America together with its allies demonstrated to the whole world that the United States had a might and was capable to prevent every threat. I have no doubt that the measures taken in this field will rescue the people from this serious tragedy and the number of countries going on the way of democracy and justice will increase, wars in the world will be avoided and people will live in peace.

As you know, the people of Azerbaijan were subjected to the aggression by Armenia still in 1988. The conflict began, the war broke out, blood was shed, we have given martyrs and 20 percent of the territories of Azerbaijan have been occupied because of various reasons. More than one million of Azerbaijanis have been expelled from their homes and driven out of their native lands.

This phenomenon should be estimated impartially as well. The estimation should be that, the aggressive separatism and as the result of it, carrying out of military aggression, terrorism, in general, all actions against the humanity by the Armenian state have created this situation. In this case Azerbaijan is seeking the way out of this situation.

We have always cherished hopes for the United States of America concerning the fair solution of this problem and today we cherish as well. I consider that being a superpower in the world, the United States of America, which has prevented conflicts in many regions of the world, will manifest its courageous role in the settlement of the conflicts in the South Caucasus, especially, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

Today is a holiday. But, unfortunately, during the holiday we speak too much about the pains of peoples of the world, particularly, our people. It does not depend on us, it is connected with the situation created in the modern world. However, the world does not live only with conflicts. The world develops and peoples try to move forward on the democratic way. Notwithstanding our big pains and troubles, we have also great achievements in Azerbaijan. These gladden our people and provide the prosperous living of our people. I am absolutely confident that the people of Azerbaijan will solve these problems and its economic potential and our legal-democratic state will develop. Making of use of the values of the United States of America and European countries, we will raise our people to higher levels.

Today, in this holiday, I declare once more that the United States of America is a friendly country for us, our relationships are characterized with strategic cooperation and Azerbaijan will realize all tasks created from modern demands.

I congratulate you once again and wish the friendly American people peace, tranquility and prosperity. I wish all of you good health and happiness. Thank you.