President Bush believes in 907 abolition

The Azerbaijan President’s press-service has disseminated a report saying that US President George Bush telephoned his Azeri counterpart Heydar Aliyev on Tuesday to thank him for the support in the US-led anti-terrorist operation and close cooperation with the US. President Bush announced his country’s intention to maintain close cooperation with Azerbaijan, adding that his administration was actively lobbying for the abolition of Section 907 by the US Congress. He then voiced a hope that the Congress would eventually pass the decision.

President Aliyev, in turn, thanked Mr. Bush for the attention to Azerbaijan, saying that the Azerbaijan people and government were profoundly shocked with the 11 September terror attack on the US. The President then stated that Baku immediately declared its readiness to offer full cooperation in combating terrorism. Mr. Aliyev went on to say that the people of Azerbaijan had counted on a complete repeal of Section 907, adding that the new package provides the US president with full authority to abolish it.

In response, President Bush pledged to do his utmost for broader cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US.*