OFFICIAL NEWS
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJANHIS EXCELLENCYMR. ILHAM ALIYEV
Dear close friends of Heydar Aliyevich!
My dear Bakuvites!
I send to you my deep condolence - my family joins me as well as my friends, former Bakuvites and all Azerbaijanis living in Haifa – on the occasion of the severe loss to everybody who loved and had respect for him. We are deeply shocked by the death of Heydar Aliyevich. We will always remember him as a man who brought Azerbaijan up to the high level, as a careful father of his people and intellectual with high moral principles, as a democrat respecting interests of all nations including those of Jewish people.
I extend deep apologies for some delay in sending this letter caused by sudden death of my sister which timed to the date of Haydar Aliyevich’s demise, and some habits of our religion prohibiting watching TV and reading newspapers for 7 days.
I want to express confidence that this grief will consolidate all Azerbaijanis wherever they are, as well former citizens of Azerbaijan. I am certain that the name of Heydar Aliyev will serve the cause of strengthening peace in Israel.
Svetlana Nisanova
Adviser of Knesset Deputy Roman Bronfman,
Coordinator of the Organization of Caucasian Immigrants
Member of the Committee of Israel-Azerbaijan Friendship Society
Haifa, December 17, 2003