On behalf of the Council of CIS Evaluators Associations /CEA/, I congratulate you on the occasion of the appointment to the high position of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Ilham Aliyev is known in the enormous CIS space as a bright star on the political horizon of the sovereign Azerbaijan at the beginning of the new millennium.

Several months ago, the CEA conducted an international congress in Baku timed the 80th anniversary of the outstanding political and sate figure of nowadays, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. The congress participants became eyewitnesses of the Azerbaijan’s achievements. The social and economic progress the country has achieved for the last decade cannot but command respect.

The news on your appointment to the high position of the Prime Minister of the Azerbaijan Republic gives hope that Azerbaijan will achieve more successes continuing to follow traditions and course of Heydar Aliyev, and will become stronger and more democratic state. I assure you that the CIS evaluators are ready to make their contribution to the economic development of Azerbaijan.

Sincerely yours,

Nikolay Trifonov,

Director General

Council of CIS Evaluators Associations

Minsk, August 18, 2003