ILHAM ALIYEV TO GO TO USA ON TUESDAY

Regnum, Russia
April 24 2006

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s first official visit to the USA
is to start on April 25. It was earlier reported, the visit was to
start on April 28, notes a REGNUM correspondent.

According to the president’s press office, the visit is to be held
under an invitation by US President George Bush, Vice President Dick
Cheney, State Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Defense Minister Donald
Rumsfeld and other governmental officials, including congressmen.

During the visit, agreements on political and economic cooperation
are expected to be signed.

Recently, US Ambassador in Baku Reno Harnish has announced that the
Karabakh problem will occupy not the least place among the issues to
be discussed during the upcoming visit by Ilham Aliyev to Washington.

“The Azerbaijani leader’s visit to Washington and his meeting with US
President George Bush will confirm the fact that the Azerbaijani party
is a supporter of a peaceful way of conflict settlement,” said Harnish.

The ambassador noted that schedule of the four-day visit was well
done. According to the diplomat, the zest of the visit is the
meeting of the two presidents. During their meeting tete-a-tete,
issues of mutual interest will be discussed, including terrorism,
and implementing energy projects in the region.