Washington, 29 July 1997 (RFE/RL) - Azerbaijan's President Heidar Aliyev arrived yesterday in New York on a week-long visit to the United States.
He is scheduled to meet United Nations officials, including Secretary-General Kofi Annan, today before leaving for Washington tomorrow.
Aliyev has a number of meetings scheduled with senior U.S. government officials and leaders of the U.S. Congress. He is also scheduled to meet President Bill Clinton on Friday at the White House.
The White House says Aliyev is making an official working visit, not a formal state visit. For a state visit, the U.S. conducts a formal welcoming ceremony on the White House grounds with a military honor guard, speeches by the U.S. president and the visiting leader, and an evening banquet at the White House.
An official working visit, in contrast, includes a meeting, a luncheon and usually, but not always, a joint press appearance.