U.S. Missile Defense Agency Brigadier General Patrick O'Reilly visited Gabal radar station

Following up on the offer of Russian President Putin to President Bush to share data from the Russian-leased Qabala early warning radar, Deputy Director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency Brigadier General Patrick O'Reilly led a team of experts to visit the radar on September 18.  Speaking to assembled local and international media representatives after the visit, O'Reilly stressed that it is in our mutual interest to cooperate on missile defense to counter emerging security threats.  He noted that this had been a fact-finding trip and that the expert team will continue to examine whether the Qabala radar can play a role in our plans for a missile defense system.  O'Reilly also added that the U.S. had also invited Russian experts to watch a flight test and to visit U.S. anti-missile facilities in the coming weeks.  Photo by Turan Agency.

Assistant Secretary Sullivan Speaks to the Media

On August 16, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs Daniel Sullivan gave a speech on US-Azerbaijan economic relations and answered questions at the American Center in Baku. In his speech, A/S Sullivan underlined the importance of economical development in Azerbaijan's non-oil sector and accession to the World Trade Organization. The speech was followed by questions from members of the American-educated Azerbaijan Alumni Assoication and journalists representing most Azerbaijani media outlets. During the Q&A, A/S Sullivan discussed Azerbaijan's key role in global energy security, efforts by the international community to urge Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program, and some of the measures that should be taken by Azerbaijan to avoid the effects of "Dutch Disease" and the oil resource "curse."

Public Diplomacy Officer visits an English Club

Public Diplomacy Officer Dmitri Tarakhovsky attended a Forum of Enjoy English Club on August 11 near the town of Ismayilli. Approximately fifty students and English language teachers from Baku, Ismayilli, Gabala, and Ganja joined the forum. To emphasize the importance of learning foreign languages in today's world, Mr. Tarakhovsky made his remarks in Azerbaijani. The students conducted presentations in English on the education systems in the U.S. and in Azerbaijan as well as other topics. Open and lively discussions followed each presentation.

The Enjoy English Club was founded in 2001 with the support of the Azerbaijan English Teacher's Association and encourages school students to actively learn English. Enjoy English Club members initiate and hold periodical conferences and forums in English.

Charge d’Affaires Donald Lu Presents Graduation Certificates to 65 Madrasa Students for Their Participation in the U.S. Embassy Microscholarship English Program

On August 2, U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires Donald Lu presented certificates and congratulated the 65 children who received U.S. Embassy microscholarships and successfully completed 10 months of English classes taught by the Azerbaijan English Teachers’ Association.  Dmitri Tarakhovsky, U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Officer, gave opening remarks stressing the importance of learning of English as a major asset for the future of the students and their country.  The children, who are all students in local madrasas, gave presentations on the US political system, economy, history, culture and geography, sang songs, and performed short plays to demonstrate their newly-acquired English language skills. Some of the students were also presented with special prizes and certificates for their essays, class participation, and contributions in producing two newsletters.  The graduation ceremony was covered by local TV and print media.

Ambassador and Deputy Assistant Secretary Open State-of-the-Art American Center in Baku, Azerbaijan

Ambassador Derse, Education Minister Mardanov, and Semed Seyidov, Parliamentarian and Rector of the University of Languages, signed an MOU and officially opened the American Center at the University of Languages.  The Center, which houses 10 public internet workstations, thousands of books, dozens of magazines and journals, a large video collection, and access to on-line databases, is expected to host hundreds of visitors every week.  Joining the celebration from Washington by digital video conference, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Colleen Graffy and IIP's Holly Murten congratulated the Embassy and University on the opening.  The opening was widely covered by the national television and print media.

Monthly Embassy “Ask-the Consul” Column Demystifies Visa Procedures in Azerbaijan

Two major daily Azerbaijani newspapers, Russian-language EXO and Azerbaijani-language AYNA, agreed to the Embassy’s proposal to print a monthly “Ask-the-Consul” column which features questions from readers and answers from the Embassy Consular Section Chief.  The column (now in its 5th month) provides a regular and credible forum to dispel rumours and myths about the U.S. visa process.  Focusing individual columns on topical issues (student visas, summer work travel visas, the diversity lottery, procedural changes) also gives us a timely means of anticipating problems and countering criticism.

Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary European and Eurasian Affairs Remarks to the Center for Eurasian Policy conference on "The Azerbaijan-Turkey-U.S. Relations and Its importance for Eurasia" on December 10, 2007.

I am told that the name Azerbaijan comes from old Persian for "the land of fire." The reference is supposedly to Azerbaijan's famous petroleum deposits. So the link between the nation and energy captures the way many look at Azerbaijan. But there's another theory, that the name Azerbaijan refers to bonfires lit by the Zoroastrian high priests of the ancient country. I actually prefer that theory of the name Azerbaijan because it roots the nation in ancient c ulture and it is culture, not resources, that make civilizations... full text

AMBASSADOR WELCOMES CULTURAL ELITE

Ambassador Derse hosted a reception at her residence to pay tribute to Azerbaijan's cultural elite and to Azerbaijan's cultural accomplishments over the last several months.  Specifically, the Ambassador noted the designation of the Qobustan petroglyphs as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-place finish by pianist Shahin Novresli at the 2007 Montreux Jazz Festival. Other attendees included world-renowned Azerbaijani mugam singer Alim Qasimov, a member of Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, and a number of preeminent local musicians and artists.  Rennie Kaufman, an American cultural envoy entertained the guests, and Shahin Novresli also impressed the audience with an impromptu piano performance.

Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble Perform Historic Azerbaijani Opera at Harvard University

Famous Azerbaijani mugham singer Alim Qasimov and other Azerbaijani musicians accompanied world-renowned cellist Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble at Harvard University for two performances of the new chamber version of “Leyla & Majnun” (1908), the seminal Azerbaijani opera based on a classic Arabian legend by composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov (and the first opera written in any oriental country).  Alim Qasimov’s multi-year collaboration with Cultural Ambassador Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble was made possible in part by a Culture Connect grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Dr. Aida Huseynova, an ethnomusicologist and Azerbaijani Fulbright scholar introduced the group and discussed the role of mugham in Azerbaijani music and the cultural significance of the opera in a November 26 lecture and in pre-concert talks before each performance on November 29 and November 30. Yo-Yo Ma, Alim Gasimov and all musicians of the Silk Road Ensemble shared their vision of the new project during Q&A sessions following each performance. The cultural program also included an exhibition of images about “Leyla & Majnun” at the Harvard University Sackler Art Museum and discussions with scholars and musicians of the Silk Road Ensemble.

Senator Brownback Calls for U.S. and Azerbaijan to Conclude a "Grand Bargain" to Deepen and Broaden Relations

Senator Brownback visited Azerbaijan on February 20 to meet with President Aliyev and to address over 200 Azerbaijani students, offials, and politicians assembled at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy. In his remarks and in the Q&A session, the Senator told the audience that he had urged President Aliyev to visit Washington and conclude a "grand bargain" in an effort to broaden bilateral relations in the areas of energy, commerce, and security/military cooperation. Senator Brownback also discussed the U.S. elections, Iran, Kosovo, the PKK, Nagorno-Karabakh and other issues. The Senator also visited our American Center at the University of Foreign Languages and gave exclusive interviews to ANS TV, Radio Liberty, and the BBC. His visit received broad, positive, national press coverage.

Ambassador's Visit to Grave of Slain Journalist Highlights U.S. Support for Media Freedom

Ambassador Derse visited the grave of Elmar Huseynov, an outspoken journalist who was murdered three years ago, to express U.S. support and solidarity for independent journalists and media freedom in Azerbaijan. Ambassador Derse used the occasion to reiterate U.S. calls for the crime to be thoroughly investigated and for the perpetrators to be prosecuted and punished. The U.S. Embassy is also administering a grant from the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor to the Elmar Huseynov Foundation to provide support for investigative journalism as a commemoration of Elmar Huseynov's memory. This commemoration on the anniversary of Elmar Huseynov's death was attended by prominent media professionals and politicians. The Ambassador's participation and her remarks were covered widely by the national print media.