Official Speeches and Remarks by Ambassador Anne E. Derse

US Ambassador's remarks at the reception in honor of Deputy Foreign Minister, First Azerbaijan's Ambassador to US Hafiz Pahayev

May 29, 2008

It is my great pleasure to host this reception in honor of my friend and colleague, Deputy Foreign Minister Hafiz Pashayev.  Thank you all for joining me here today to honor him.

Ambassador Pashayev, the independent Republic of Azerbaijan’s first Ambassador to the United States, has played a unique and instrumental role in Azerbaijan's recent history and in building the excellent relationship between the United States of America and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In the space of just 16 years, the Republic of Azerbaijan has surmounted the monumental diplomatic challenges of establishing independence and sovereignty, forging vibrant partnerships with the United States and Europe, attracting the foreign investment needed to capitalize on its untapped energy and human resources, and building the independent export routes to transport and sell its oil and gas abroad.

Shortly after independence, at a crucial time in its history, the young Republic of Azerbaijan turned to one of its most respected intellectuals, an accomplished physicist with considerable innate diplomatic skills, to undertake one of it most important tasks:  establishing a strong, positive relationship with the United States.  Hafiz Pashayev answered the call to service and traveled to Washington, D.C. as Azerbaijan's first Ambassador to the United States.

As the Ambassador to the United States for 14 years, Hafiz Pashayev was instrumental in forging a unique partnership between our countries.  He secured Western support for his young republic and introduced Azerbaijan to scores of American diplomats, politicians, and businessmen.  I cannot tell you how many colleagues in Washington, and indeed throughout the United States, remember Hafiz with the greatest respect and fondness. Azerbaijan's extraordinary success in establishing its independence and security, and strong partnership with the U.S., is due in no small part to his diplomatic efforts in Washington.  Both the Azerbaijani and American people owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.  Ambassador Pashayev's book, Racing Up Hill, is an invaluable account of that historic period in our bilateral relationship and will surely be studied by diplomats and scholars for many years to come.  

As the Ambassador to the United States, Hafiz Pashayev also nurtured and mentored some of the brightest stars of the first generation of professional diplomats for the Republic of Azerbaijan.  Many of those who benefited from his guidance have continued to serve their country in other important diplomatic assignments, including the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov, Ambassador Tagizade in Prague, Consul General Suleymanov in Los Angeles, and others. 

Returning to Azerbaijan as Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Pashayev has applied his great vision and valuable experience and contacts acquired in the United States to launch a Diplomatic Academy that will help define the future of modern education in Azerbaijan and prepare future generations of diplomats and public servants.  Drawing on his superb relationships with some of the top American universities, Ambassador Pashayev adopted best practices from America to create a model for higher education in Azerbaijan that will distinguish this country as a leader in the region and in the world. 

These are all remarkable accomplishments for a remarkable man in what was a second, unplanned career.  Please join me in a round of applause for Ambassador Pashayev.

In honor of the outstanding achievements of Ambassador Pashayev, and with our thanks for his extraordinary contribution to the friendship and partnership between our countries, I am pleased to announce today that we have created a new award:  the Hafiz Pashayev Award for the Promotion of U.S.-Azerbaijan Relations.  Starting this year, the U.S. Embassy will present this award each year to an Azerbaijani citizen who, like Ambassador Pashayev, has made an outstanding contribution to promoting stronger relations between the U.S. and Azerbaijan.  The first recipient, of course, is Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev himself.   Along with this award, and again with out thanks, I am pleased to present Ambassador  Pashayev with a memento of his time in Washington – a photo from the Oval Office with President George W. Bush. 

Thank you.  At this time, I would like to invite our distinguished guest of honor to say a few words.