Baku News

28 April 2006 [15:30] - Today.Az - "If the United States of America and Russia want a place for confrontation let them choose not Azerbaijan, but other place," visiting the Unites States of America Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan told at Business and Investment Meeting of the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC). Later the President, Ministers of Economic Development, Finance, Information Technologies, Culture and Tourism reported to the audience. A special video roller devoted to the Azerbaijan was broadcast as well. The most interesting was the interrogation at the conference. But the American community was more interested in Nagorno Karabakh conflict and happenings around Iran. President expressed in his speech that Azerbaijan would participate in the anti-terror coalition operations under the command of the USA aiming to create peace in Iraq. As response to the question of the audience the Head of the state said that Azerbaijan sends to Iraq military forces, but not "drivers" as Armenia. Later President met with Robert Zoellick, Deputy Secretary of State. This meeting lasted more the half an hour than planned. Energy security, transportation of oil and gas to the international market was the topics of the discussion. The Head of the state noted in meeting with the representatives of Azerbaijan Diaspora the Armenian lobby spreads negative opinions about Azerbaijan. Because their main purpose is spot Azerbaijan and introduce it as an anti-democratic country so that Armenians cannot live as minorities. As if they can't live in security here. Ilham Aliyev called Azerbaijan Diaspora to be more active and for close cooperation with one another. President Ilham Aliyev will meet with the US president George Bush, Dick Cheney, vice-president and Donald Rumsfeld, the chief of the Pentagon, ANS reports.