What became a turbulent week–Gaidar Aliyev concluded his first official State visit to the United States in Houston.
From the very begin of his stay in the US–Aliyev not only met with oil company representatives–in addition to diplomats and administration officials–he was also faced with demonstration and protest in almost every locale he visited.
The Armenian-American community of Greater Washington greeted the Azeri dictator with a large scale demonstration at the Willard Hotel in downtown Washington. Joined by Congressman Frank Pallone–Armenian protestors vocally expressed their anger and discontent with Azerbaijan’s policies against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
In addition–Rep. Pallone spoke of Administration attempts to repeal Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. He vehemently opposed such actions by President Clinton.
A group of 100 displaced Armenia’s originally from Baku staged a protest at the United Nations Headquarters during Aliyev’s visit with Kofi Annan–Secretary General of the UN.
Aliyev signed some $10 billion in oil deals with various US oil companies–the last one in Chicago with Amoco.
The Armenian National Committee of Chicago conducted a very successful demonstration at the Amoco world headquarters–which was reported on by the Chicago Tribune.
For more press coverage of the Aliyev visit–see inside pages of this edition of Asbarez for press reports on the visit as well as the demonstrations.