Distinguished Mr. Gingrich!

Distinguished Congressmen!

First of all, I would like to stress that I am very satisfied with my meeting with the speaker of the House of Representatives and the congressmen during my first official visit to your country. I feel that it is my duty to say that these warm words have been addressed to the independent Azerbaijan and its people. It is relevant to declare that the socio-political situation in Azerbaijan is stable, important works are under way in the sphere of building a democratic judicial system and reforms are being realized after our country started to develop independently. Human rights are protected, freedoms of press, speech, religion and conscience have been ensured in the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. The task is the declaration of our independence, its eternity.

The real reason of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict which started since 1988, is the aggressive intentions of Armenia to occupy and annex the Azerbaijani territories. Because of the Armenian aggression, 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territories have been occupied, more than one million our citizens were forced to live in tent camps in hard conditions being as they have been driven out of their lands, and all the property of our people in the occupied territories, historical, cultural monuments have been savagely and completely destroyed… Giving comprehensive explanation to all these shameful and brutal acts on this map here, I think it necessary for you have clear imagination about the real essence of the issue The idea of the blockade of Armenia by Azerbaijan created by the Armenian lobby it is completely false, and in deed, these facts prove that in fact Azerbaijan has been blockaded.

It is necessary to stress the importance of the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minks Group by the three influential powers, the USA, Russia and France related to this issue. Noting the great importance of the joint statement of the presidents Bill Clinton of the USA, Boris Yeltsin of Russia and Jacques Chirac of France in Denver for the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, I want to say that Azerbaijan tries to use all the opportunities to resolve this conflict which lasts for several years, by the end of 1997 on the principles of the Lisbon Summit.

I say once again that Armenia, ignoring the international law, the decisions of the international organizations, does not want give-up the idea of annexation of the Nagorno-Karabakh, which is an integral part of Azerbaijan. Whereas, being completely wrong and contradicting historical facts, this idea is not anything more than the intention to profit from the fact of the temporary occupation of the Azerbaijani province Nagorno-Karabakh and its 7 adjacent districts. I remind once more that Nagorno-Karabakh is a historical part of Azerbaijan. We cannot let the second Armenian state to be established on the territory of Azerbaijan, and the world community also must not agree with it.

Despite the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, the US Congress adopted Section 907 to the \"Freedom Support Act\" and created an obstacle to strengthening the Azerbaijani-US cooperation. Attracting your attention to this fact once again, I want to say that I am confident that the congressmen will pay a special attention to repealing this Section soon.

I am emphasizing once more that the Azerbaijani-US relations constantly develop in the years. The US companies closely participate in the development of the oil deposits of the Caspian Sea in its Azerbaijani sector, and important documents have been signed or to be signed in the near future which shows that our countries have established good contacts in other spheres. All these confirms the importance of repealing Section 907, and I want to submit to you, Mr. Gingrich, the project prepared by Congressman King related to it.

I hope that the congressmen who closely watch the works done in Azerbaijan in the sphere of building a democratic and judicial state and steps, and the conduction of reforms, will occupy just position in this issue for improving the Azerbaijani-US contacts.

Mr. Gingrich, at the end of my speech I invite you to visit Azerbaijan. I am confident that your visit will enlarge your imaginations about Azerbaijan and contribute to improving the US-Azerbaijani contacts.