OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

His Excellency Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency, Honorable President,

On the occasion of celebrating your birthday, I would like to express my warmest wishes for longevity, health, family happiness and further contribution to the prosperity of your people. As member of the Group of Friends of the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre, I would like to thank you for your most valuable support towards the activities of this important Centre of reflection and action.

I also extend my wishes as the newly elected Governor of the Ionian Islands, the furthest western insular Region in Greece, which is at close proximity to the site where the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) crosses the Adriatic Sea along the seabed from the Albanian to the Italia coast. This is a highly significant project not only for Greece but also for the EU’s energy future that everyone is looking forward to, since its completion will launch the vital Southern Gas Corridor and consolidate EU’s and Azerbaijan’s strategic partnership.

Furthermore, in the context of more than 25 years of diplomatic relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Greece, I would like to assure you that the new government’s foreign affairs’ policy is to further strengthen our ties with your country on common projects for the benefit and well-being of our people, and the peace throughout the world.

In the framework of my competence, I would be delighted at the prospect of cooperation between the Ionian Islands’ Region and your country in the fields of tourism, university education, culture and sports.

Most respectfully,

Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou

Governor of the Ionian Islands’ Region of Greece