PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN HIS EXCELLENCY ILHAM HEYDAR OGLU ALIYEV
[October 16, 2004, 12:17:54]

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Oct 16 2004

Dear and highly esteemed President!

On behalf of deputies of Milli Majlis and on my personal behalf, I
cordially congratulate You on the anniversary of acting as the
President of the Azerbaijan Republic and on the occasion of 13th
anniversary of our state independence, I wish you new successes in
the grandiose work done by you in the name of further strengthening
and development of the independent Azerbaijan state which was left to
us by our national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Marking 13th anniversary of independence, we once again look back to
the way passed by our people for construction of a free, independent,
sovereign state, difficulties that it faced on this way, to the
successes achieved by it. The whole period of the newest history of
Azerbaijan is connected to the name of our national leader Heydar
Aliyev. Thanks to his ingenious administrative abilities and intense
work in 1969-1982, during his first management of the Republic, our
country experienced progress in all spheres of life – in economy,
science, culture, education. For the short period of time, Azerbaijan
has passed the way of development equal to century. The favorable
conditions created by our national leader have started potential
force of society, and therefore, in consciousness of our people there
was a true awakening national advantage. During this period, due to
foresight and wisdom of Heydar Aliyev, there was laid strong base for
the future state independence of Azerbaijan.

At the end of XX century, when our people regained independence, it
could keep this sacred gift only due to the genius and will of Heydar
Aliyev. In terrible June days 1993, when the destiny of our
statehood, when our freedom and independence have faced monstrous
danger, our national leader on call of the insisting people has come
back to power in the country, and it has rescued the Azerbaijan
Republic which was on the edge of war and destruction. Due to Heydar
Aliyev’s saving mission, our state got rid of threat to be erased
with the political map of world, has avoided of the destiny the
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic faced in the beginning of XX century,
has shown to all world that can keep the statehood.

The policy whom our national leader with great foresight and wisdom
carried out after the historical returning to authority, has caused
eternity, irreversibility and indestructibility of independence of
Azerbaijan. In our country, large-scale reforms are carried out, and
the democratic, legal, secular state is being constructed. Principles
of civil society and market economy have been established, and
supremacy of law, protection of human rights and citizen, freedom of
speech, views, and political pluralism provided.

New oil strategy and strategy of economic development has been
prepared, and signed more than 20 contracts on development of power
resources in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian. There was a
transition from economic recession to consecutive development. Our
country became the initiator and the participant of huge economic
projects, has turned to leading force of projects of restoration of
the historical Silk Road, laying of the main export pipeline
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and gas pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum.

Negotiations on peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict have begun on the basis of norms and principles of
international law, in particular, the major among them is the
principle of inviolability of borders and territorial integrity of
the states. For achievement of support of the fair cause of our
people necessary measures on global scale have been undertaken, our
country has taken a worthy place in the international community. The
Azerbaijan Republic became an equal member of many authoritative
international organizations, including the United Nations, OSCE, the
Council of Europe, and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the
Commonwealths of Independent States, the Organizations of Economic
Cooperation, the initiator and the active participant of regional
structure GUUAM.

Meeting today the 13th anniversary of the state independence of the
Azerbaijan Republic, our people once again with feeling of gratitude
recollects invaluable merits of Heydar Aliyev who has devoted all
life to protection, strengthening and development of the Azerbaijan
state, and who is among the greatest persons of our history. His
six-ten years’ grandiose activity including in political treasury of
the world, has played an exclusive role in realization of dream of
independent statehood, which by centuries was desired by Azerbaijan
people.

Dear Mr. President!

One of the most significant events, which have occurred these days in
the political life of our country, is the anniversary of your
activity in the post of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic. On
October 15 last year, our people has voted at presidential elections
for You, having acted thus for continuation of the political course
of Heydar Aliyev leading Azerbaijan to the happy future. This
historical event, which has put in pawn the beginning of a new stage
in democratic development of Azerbaijan, being logical continuation
of our way of development, has provided political continuity
representing at the present stage vital value for our state.

In spite of the fact that a year passed after presidential elections,
is very short term for history, scale and the importance of the work
done in our country under your management, allow to speak with full
confidence that in the near future the Azerbaijan Republic which has
reached progress on strong and indestructible basis, created by our
national leader Heydar Aliyev, will turn in the most powerful state
of region. The projects, which are carried out by you in the post of
the head of the state, allow continuing successfully reforms in
political, economic, social and cultural life of our country. It is
undertaken measures directed on social and economic development of
our regions, huge transnational economic projects in which our
country participates, including the project of laying the BTC MEP.
The big attention is given to industry, agriculture, and other
branches of economy. It is perceived with great approval rise of well
being of Azerbaijan people, opening of new workplaces, increase of
wages, allowances and pensions, care of science, literature, art,
sports are perceived.

Your foreign visits, fruitful negotiations held with heads of the
states, politicians promote further strengthening of positions of
Azerbaijan on global scale, guarantee support of our just cause,
peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict.

Dear Mr. President,

The work done by you in the name of continuation of the political
line of our national leader Heydar Aliyev, development of his ideas,
has brought to you national love. Our people love you and have
closely rallied around of you. We trust, that due to inherent in you
to political experience, hardness and resoluteness you and henceforth
will continue successfully a rate of our national leader Heydar
Aliyev, will achieve the decision of all problems facing to our
independent state.

Dear President,

On behalf of deputies of the Milli Majlis and on my personal behalf
once again I congratulate You on the anniversary of presidential
activity and on the occasion of 13th anniversary of the state
independence of the Azerbaijan Republic, I wish you robust health,
new successes in grandiose activity in the name of happy future of
our state and people.

With deep respect,

On behalf of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic,

Murtuz Alaskarov,

Chairman of Milli Majlis

(The Congratulation was adopted at session of Milli Majlis of the
Azerbaijan Republic, October 15, 2004).