OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
From John Hambrick, Speaker of the Assembly of State of Nevada
His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Dear President Aliyev,
I would like to cordially thank you for meeting with me on April 5, 2016, which I very much enjoyed. I appreciate the hospitality extended to me during my visit to your beautiful country. Based on the productive meetings, I am very hopeful that this visit will be an important contribution to fostering the relations between Nevada and Azerbaijan in a wide range of areas.
I greatly value Azerbaijan’s strong partnership and friendship with the United States in a variety of fields from energy security to the fight against terrorism. It is commendable that after the heinous terrorist attacks of 9/11, Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to render its unconditional assistance to the United States and send its soldiers to fight there shoulder-to-shoulder with American troops.
I applaud the great contributions Azerbaijan is making to the strengthening of the energy security of the United States as well as that of our allies in Europe. The Southern Energy Corridor, of which Azerbaijan is a lynchpin and crucial part, will help many European nations diversify their energy sources towards achieving their energy independence, which is important also for the United States.
I also appreciate the fact that located in a very difficult region surrounded by conflicts, Azerbaijan has nevertheless managed to become a beacon of interreligious tolerance and harmony – a successful and internationally recognized model of peaceful co-existence of Muslims, Christians and Jews that is sorely needed in many other parts of the world.
In April 2015, the State Assembly of Nevada issued a proclamation supporting the strategic partnership and friendship between the United States and Azerbaijan, and highlighting many strides your nation has taken to develop as a free and independent nation.
Please also accept my heartfelt congratulations on the upcoming Republic Day of Azerbaijan. I wish you and your country continued success in all future endeavors.
Sincerely,
John Hambrick
Speaker of the Assembly of State of Nevada