From Altai Efendiev, GUAM Secretary General
His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Your Excellency,
On behalf of the International Secretariat of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM and on my own behalf, I would like to extend our most sincere congratulations on your birthday!
On this occasion, we also want to congratulate you on the impressive achievements in developing your country under your leadership, enhancing its regional and international posture and role. The Republic of Azerbaijan is steadily and successfully transforming into a strong, modern, prosperous country and becoming an increasingly influential actor in regional and global affairs.
We also wish you every success in your persistent and laborious efforts to win and establish a just and lasting peace and to develop an inclusive cooperation in the region after the glorious victory of the liberation war and the complete restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders.
We admire the progress made in the rehabilitation, reconstruction, and reintegration of the liberated lands into the country's social and economic fabric, as well as in the diversification and modernization of the economy.
We commend your leadership in a highly complex and challenging external environment and your principled, consistent stance on key issues in international affairs.
Mr. President, as a regional organization, we stand ready to support your initiatives to promote regional peace, stability, and cohesion by implementing regional projects and initiatives. We are also interested in learning about Azerbaijan's experience that can be shared among the GUAM member states. We value Azerbaijan's contribution to regional cooperation and look forward to further strengthening it within the GUAM framework.
Excellency, once again, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations on your birthday and wish you strong health and unquenchable energy to implement all your ideas and initiatives for developing a strong, modern, democratic, and prosperous Azerbaijan!
Sincerely yours,
Altai Efendiev
GUAM Secretary General