[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 137 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE SERVICE OF HIS EXCELLENCY YASHAR ALIYEV, AMBASSADOR OF THE 
              REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN TO THE UNITED STATES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. SHUSTER. I thank the Speaker.
  Today, I rise to honor the distinguished service of my good friend, 
His Excellency Yashar Aliyev, who in October 2006 was appointed by 
President Ilham Aliyez as Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to 
the United States of America.
  I am proud to serve as the cochairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan 
Caucus.
  Azerbaijan is an important strategic partner of the United States. 
Located in a geopolitically dynamic region between Europe and Asia and 
sandwiched between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan is a secular country 
with a predominantly Muslim population that has also been home for more 
than a millennia to vibrant Christian and Jewish communities. 
Azerbaijan has opened Caspian energy resources to development by U.S. 
companies and has emerged as a key player for global energy security.
  On the security front, immediately after 9/11, Azerbaijan was among 
the first to offer strong support and assistance to the United States. 
Azerbaijan participated in operations in Kosova and Iraq and is 
actively engaged in Afghanistan, having recently doubled its military 
presence there.
  Ambassador Aliyev has made an indelible mark on deepening U.S. and 
Azerbaijan relations.

                              {time}  1400

  Bilateral trade is expanding as Azerbaijan diversifies its economy, 
enabling it to increasingly contribute to the economic growth of the 
United States.
  Baku and Washington cooperate on counterterrorism and 
nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Moreover, this 
continued development of Azerbaijan's natural resources contributes 
greatly to the energy security of the United States and Europe. Working 
with Ambassador Aliyev, we have more than doubled the size of the 
Azerbaijan Caucus in Congress and continue to bring attention to this 
vital strategic partner.
  Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, Aliyev served as Azerbaijan's 
permanent representative to the United Nations from 2002 to 2006. 
During this period he was chairman of the Fourth Committee of Special 
Political and Decolonization of the 60th U.N. General Assembly, vice 
president of the 59th General Assembly, vice president of the Economic 
and Social Council from 2004 to 2005, and vice president of the U.N. 
Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All 
Its Aspects in 2001.
  Ambassador Aliyev began his diplomatic career at the United Nations 
in 1992, serving as political affairs counselor and charge d'affaires 
of Azerbaijan's permanent mission. He was also Azerbaijan's first 
delegate to the First and Fourth Committees at the 47th through 56th 
sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.
  Having joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Azerbaijan in 1989, 
Ambassador Aliyev held the posts of political officer, first secretary 
and deputy director in the Ministry's Department of Information and 
Political Analysis, as well as director of the Department of 
International Organizations.
  Ambassador Aliyev took up oriental studies at Azerbaijan State 
University in 1972 and received the school's highest degree in 1977. He 
pursued postgraduate research at the Oriental Studies Institute of 
Russia's Academy of Sciences in Moscow from 1980 to 1982. In the early 
1990s, he also studied for a year at the Diplomatic Academy of Russia's 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is fluent in English, Arabic, Russian, 
and Turkish.
  On a personal note, I will miss Ambassador Aliyev, and I extend to 
him my highest regards and well wishes, to him and to his family in all 
their future endeavors. In our years working together, the Ambassador 
has become a truly valued friend.
  It has been my pleasure to visit Azerbaijan twice with him and also 
to host him in my district in Pennsylvania on two occasions, including 
sharing a recent birthday celebration together.
  Ambassador Aliyev, best wishes in all your future endeavors. I look 
forward to building on our future partnership with Azerbaijan and 
continuing our friendship in years to come.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________