OSU welcomes Azerbaijani delegation to the Hamm Institute for American Energy

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Media Contact:
Kelli Norton | Communication Specialist | 405-744-5496 | [email protected]

The Oklahoma State University School of Global Studies and Partnerships, in conjunction
with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Hamm Institute of American Energy,
not too long ago hosted a delegation from the Republic of Azerbaijan at the Hamm Institute
of American Energy.

The delegation, composed of high-ranking army and diplomatic leaders from Azerbaijan,
visited Oklahoma to rejoice the twentieth anniversary of the Oklahoma/Azerbaijan National
Guard Partnership on Nov. 30, in Oklahoma City.

The delegation — led by Col. Gen. Karim Valiyev of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and
Khazar Ibrahim, ambassador to the United States from the Republic of Azerbaijan —
visited Oklahoma City to talk about present and future relations between the two entities.
It was Ibrahim’s second go to to OSU.

Because of the similarities in the power and protection industries, the Hamm Institute
for American Energy was the prime location to showcase the cutting-edge improvements
being performed in Oklahoma.  

The partnership between Azerbaijan and Oklahoma started in 2002 with the Department
of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. The program pairs state
National Guards with worldwide companions to advance engagement with them. As such,
the Oklahoma National Guard has been working carefully with the Azerbaijani authorities
to host army alternate workshops and applications.

In July 2021, a delegation of Oklahomans — together with Gov. Kevin Stitt; Secretary of
Agriculture and OSU/A&M Regent Blayne Arthur;  Secretary of Commerce Scott Mueller;
Dean Randy Kluver; and different Oklahoma leaders — visited Azerbaijan to talk about methods
to strengthen the partnership and develop financial alternatives in Azerbaijan.

During the go to, OSU signed a memorandum of settlement that created a twin agricultural
diploma program between OSU and Azerbaijan State Agricultural University. The first
program cohort of Azerbaijani college students will arrive in Stillwater for the fall 2022
semester.

Delegation from Azerbaijan included:

• Col. Gen. Karim Valiyev, First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan
  — Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army
• Maj. Gen. Huseyn Mahmudov — Head of International Military Cooperation Department,
  Ministry of  Defense
• Col. Vagif Dergahli — Head of Secretariat to the Chief of the General Staff of the
  Azerbaijan Army
• Col. Ilgar Aghayev — Assistant of the Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan
  Army
• Lt. Col. Elmaddin Aliyev — Interpreter

Office of the Defense Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to U.S. 

• Col. Rustam Gozalov — Defense Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan
  to U.S.
• Lt. Col. Gahraman Mammadov — Assistant Defense Attaché
• Lt. Cmdr. Kamran Tahirbayli — Assistant Defense Attaché

Diplomatic employees

• Khazar Ibrahim — Ambassador
• Erkin Heydarli — Counselor of the Embassy
• Toghrul Aliyev — First Secretary of the Embassy

Musicians

• Arslan Novrasli — “Tar” (National Azerbaijani musical instrument) artist
• Nargiz Aliyeva — Fortepiano artist
• Elnur Mikayilov — “Kamancha” (National Azerbaijani musical instrument) artist
• Aybaniz Novrasli — Emcee for musicians