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Madigan the diplomat?

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Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov received the delegation led by Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael J. Madigan, the parliament’s press service told APA. Ogtay Asadov said that the US and Azerbaijan have a strategic partnership: “Currently, the working group on the US-Azerbaijan interparliamentary relations is functioning at the Azerbaijani Parliament. We want such working groups to be established mutually with the various states of the US, including Illinois.”

Michael J. Madigan highly estimated the rapid development of Azerbaijan, direction of oil incomes to new spheres, especially information technologies. The guest said that the development and implementation of special projects by the government of Azerbaijan on information technologies were estimable: “The Illinois State will get benefit from the experience of Azerbaijan in this sphere in the future.”

The sides exchanged view on organizing of mutual visits, interparliamentary cooperation, exchange of experience in the legislation sphere and etc.

Madigan’s spokesman said he was in Turkey last week and this Azerbaijan excursion was a “side trip,” but did not know any details about the visit.

* More…

The House of Representatives of Illinois state (USA), will provide the necessary financial support for cooperation of the state finance funds with the Azerbaijani State Fund for Development of Information and Communication Technologies, the House Speaker Michael Madigan said at a meeting with Azerbaijani Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov, the ministry report stated.

Appreciating the achievements of Azerbaijan, the speaker spoke about the work implemented in the state of Illinois, including Chicago.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:35 am

Comments

Today Illinois…tomorrow the World!

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:37 am
Speaker, how did you do that?!?!?!

“I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:39 am
Today, ruler of the caucus …

Tomorrow, ruler of the Caucasus…

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:44 am
Are there pythons in Azerbaijan?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:52 am
“the state will gain the experience of Azerbaijan in this sphere”… “exchange of experience in the legislatation sphere”… “sphere”????

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Comment by Jaded Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:55 am
who paid for this waste and what did they get for it?

Comment by shore Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:57 am
Azerbaijan…soon to be known as Madiganistan.

Comment by observing Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:04 am
Perhaps the Speaker should stop by Israel on the way home.

And then Washington to advise the President on how to avoid the fiscal cliff.

I guess any pension “reform” agreement is not worth working on right now.

Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:31 am
Azerbaijan has a history of human rights abuses. I am not saying that should preclude a relationship from existing because I don’t know a lot about it. But we are talking to a country without a free press about information and communication technologies. Public visits just don’t seem appropriate. And I understand this is about nothing, but some of the accusations against the Azerbaijani government are more serious than Squeezy or the Smart Act and that should be a serious consideration when planning your “work trip”.

Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:50 am
The guy is a great multi tasker,he should run for Dictator. I have no hope for pension reform.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:26 pm
Mr. Speaker! Mr. Speaker! Tell me it isn’t too late!

You remember the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, don’t you?

Tell me you didn’t go to Azerbaijan!

What? You did?

(Groan!) Sacha Baron Cohen is filming a sequel there! Right now!

Please. Tell me you didn’t meet with a man named — Ali G.

You did? You — DID??

Oh…oh…the…EMBARRASSMENT of it all!

Ah, Madigan! Ah, Illinois!

(Snark!)

I’m outta here.

Comment by Third Reading Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:27 pm
As expected, Baghdad Bob Brown “did not have any details about the visit.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 2:39 pm
I have no idea what Madigan was going in Baku, and still don’t after that snippet of story. But Azerbaijan is an American ally in the region whose government is not on great terms with the Kremlin. American oil companies have been working with the country and its oil reserves in the Caspian Sea since the fall of the Soviet Union. Oil is making it richer and the country needs a lot of infrastructure improvements. The leaders are quite eager to build stronger ties, commercially and diplomatically with American interests. If Illinois can get a part of the pie, kudos for the Speaker.

Comment by Downstate Illinois Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 4:05 pm