Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2004
Azeri President Gave Speech at Columbia University During His Visit
to New York
26/09/2004 09:36
On September 24, 2004 Columbia University in the City of New York
hosted the president Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev within the framework
of Second World Leaders Forum.
Each fall during the United Nations General Assembly, Columbia
University in the City of New York serves as a center for public
debate, welcoming world leaders to its campus for a series of public
lectures, roundtables and special events.
The annual World Leaders Forum, attended by students, faculty and
invited guests, encourages open discussion and greater understanding
of the most pressing economic, political and social challenges of the
present.
This year presidents and prime ministers from India, Bolivia,
Romania, Latvia, Mozambique and Azerbaijan, and foreign ministers
from Poland, Colombia and Thailand, and former US Secretary of State
Ms. Madeleine Albright were invited to the forum.
During his speech Mr. Aliyev talked about the current socio-economic
situation in Azerbaijan and the policies put forward to foster the
rapid development of the country, especially in rural regions of
Azerbaijan. He mentioned the eradication of unemployment and poverty
as the top priority for the current government. He devoted the
significant portion of his speech to the issues related to the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict between the Republic of Armenia
and Azerbaijan. He described the miserable situation of Internally
Displaced Persons (IDP) and refugees in Azerbaijan and stressed non
constrictive position of Republic of Armenia in the peace negotiation
process.
Among 360 participants of the event many professors and students were
trying to ask questions to Mr. Aliyev. Most questions were related to
Karabakh conflict, the way of settling it and socio-economic,
political situation in Azerbaijan. Mr. President stressed the
negative impact of illegal policies of establishing new settlements
by Armenia in occupied Azeri territories on the resolution of
Karabakh conflict. Furthermore, he acknowledged the great
contribution of Jewish community in Azerbaijan to the development of
the country answering the question by a member of Azeri Jewish
community in New York City.
After the president’s speech was over, he had brief meeting with the
members of Columbia Azerbaijani Student Association (CASA). Mr.
President was informed about the activities of CASA and its
contribution to the dissemination of the realities about the
Azerbaijan among Columbia University students and faculty. The
members of the CASA gave a special present to the president. Mr.
Aliyev highly appreciated the activities of CASA, according to CASA
press release.