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EDMOND—His Excellency Yashar T. Aliyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States of America was in Edmond Tuesday, March 1, where he spoke to the students of Herbert W. Armstrong College.

At a forum in Armstrong Auditorium, the ambassador told the students, “Azerbaijan enjoys a beneficial relationship with the United States.” He pointed to the military cooperation between the two countries, noting that Azerbaijan troops fought alongside U.S. forces in Iraq and are currently with American troops on the ground in Afghanistan.

The ambassador gave the students a brief overview of his country’s geopolitical situation in the Middle East and said, “Our most important thing for Azerbaijan is our independence. That is the dearest and most important thing for Azerbaijan.”

Ambassador Aliyev is visiting Oklahoma as the guest of the Oklahoma National Guard. A State Partnership Program was established between the State of Oklahoma and the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2003. The National Guard State Partnership Program links U.S. states with partner countries for the purpose of supporting the security operation objectives of the US and Combatant Commander.

As part of the cultural exchanges between Azerbaijan and the State of Oklahoma, Ambassador Aliyev visited the $20 million Armstrong Auditorium, which features in its Grand Lobby twelve rare onyx panels, quarried in Azerbaijan. During the brief tour His Excellency was welcomed by Armstrong International Cultural Foundation Chairman Gerald Flurry and the two exchanged personal protocol gifts.

Included in Aliyev’s delegation were three officials from the Washington, D.C., embassy, officers of the Oklahoma National Guard and officials from the Office of Protocol at the Oklahoma Secretary of State.

Ambassador Aliyev continues his visit this week where he is scheduled to meet with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin on Wednesday.

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