[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOME TO FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN, MRS. MEHRIBAN 
                                ALIYEVA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2006

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, as the new co-chairman of the Azerbaijan 
Caucus, it is a privilege to join with my good friend, the gentleman 
from Texas and fellow co-chairman Solomon Ortiz, to welcome to 
Washington, DC, the first lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mrs. 
Mehriban Aliyeva.
  We welcome Mrs. Aliyeva as a member of the Azerbaijan parliament--
Milli Majlis--and as chairperson of the United States-Azerbaijan Inter-
Parliamentary Working Group.
  This week, Mrs. Aliyeva and a delegation of parliamentarians from 
Azerbaijan are meeting with Members of Congress and administration 
offices to further reinforce understanding of Azerbaijan and encourage 
dialogue between Congress and the Milli Majlis.
  Members of the parliamentary delegation include: Gultakin Haciyeva, 
New Azerbaijan Party; Ganira Pashayeva, Independent; Evda Abramov, 
Independent; Malahat Hasanova, New Azerbaijan Party; and Ali Huseynov, 
New Azerbaijan Party. Also part of the delegation is Deputy Foreign 
Minister Hafiz Pashayev, a former abassador from the Republic of 
Azerbaijan to the United States.
  We thank our distinguished colleagues for their visit and encourage 
continued support of the Inter-Parliamentary Working Group and 
coordination with the Republic of Azerbaijan, one of our important 
strategic allies.

                          ____________________