BAKU. September 4, 2012: Yesterday, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev received credentials from the new US ambassador Richard Morningstar. The same day, Richard Morningtar visited the monument to the late Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev, the incumbent Azerbaijani president’s father. The new US Ambassador Morningstar bowed to Heydar Aliyev’s monument, setting a new precedent for the US diplomats. The official state news agency of Azerbaijan – AzerTac disseminated the photo and the news under the headline “New US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Visited the Monument of Glorious Leader Heydar Aliyev.” Richard Morningstar’s predecessor Matthew Bryza finished his term early after the US Senate refused to confirm his nomination. Bryza accepted a position at a Turkish oil company controlled by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan upon completion of his diplomatic career (Azerireport).
