OFFICIAL NEWS
HIS EXCELLENCY, Mr. ILHAM ALIYEV, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
Dear Mr. President:
Congratulations to you and the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the opening of the Fifteenth International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference in Baku.
Azerbaijan`s leadership and strategic vision in the energy sector have made possible the East-West Energy Corridor, as exemplified by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the South Caucasus gas pipeline. Azerbaijan`s development of its hydrocarbon sector in conjunction with major international energy companies has increased both the Caspian region`s economic prosperity and global energy security.
Just as Azerbaijan has stepped up to expand supplies of oil available to world markets, the United States and its European partners also look forward to expanded gas development in Azerbaijan. We believe this will elevate Azerbaijan`s strategic importance and deepen its ties with the Euro-Atlantic community through the realization of the Turkey-Greece-Italy and Nabucco gas pipelines. Azerbaijan also has a key role to play in realizing the future export of Central Asian gas to European markets. We hope soon to see increased volumes of Kazakhstan`s oil transit Azerbaijan, as the two countries work together and with Georgia and Turkey to strengthen the commercially viable and environmentally sound oil transport system that has emerged with Baku-Supsa and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan.
Best wishes for the success of the Exhibition and Conference.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush