In the course of the visit, Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev will have a number of meetings with the high rank officials of Turkey and hold discussions on several issues of mutual interest for both countries.

***

WORKING VISIT OF PRIME MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV TO TURKEY

Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in Turkey for a working visit at the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, September 8. In Ankara International Airport “Esenboga” decorated with state flags of both countries, Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev was welcomed by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Hilmi Guler, Ankara Governor Yahya Giur, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Turkey Mammad Aliyev, Turkish Ambassador in Baku Ahmet Unal Chevikez, Consul General of Azerbaijan in Istanbul Ibrahim Yagubov and other officials. ***On the same day, Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev visited mausoleum of founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. As a token of respect to the great leader, Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath on his grave and left a record in the memorable book. On September 8, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Giul, and President of the Turkish Republic Ahmet Nezdet Sezer. His last meeting in the framework of the visit, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has held with Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Following the one-on-one conversation of the heads of government, the meeting was continued in a broadened format. Then, the Governments of Azerbaijan Republic and Turkish Republic agreed on mutual visa acceptance: the document was signed by Abid Sharifov, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and Abdullah Giul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey. After the signing ceremony, Prime ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey held joint press conference.In the evening on the same day, an official dinner was given in honor of Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in the residence of the Turkish Prime Minister.During the meetings held in the framework of the visit in a warm and friendly atmosphere, the parties have held thorough exchange of views on further expanding and strengthening cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey in all areas, including implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines projects, on settlement of the Armenia - Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Garabakh, as well as a number of other issues of mutual interest. Late at night of September 8, Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev returned to Baku.

***

HIS EXCELLENCY MR. EMOMALI RAHMONOV PRESIDENT OF TAJIKISTAN

Dear Emomali Sharipovich!

I extend my cordial congratulations to You and your people on the occasion of the national holiday of Tajikistan - Independence Day.

Having passed through hard way of independence, Tajikistan achieved political stability, economic growth and democratic changes for today.

I am sure that centuries-old historical ties of friendship and cooperation will be developing in the name of peoples’ interests, peace and security in the region.

Dear Emomali Sharipovich, I wish you robust health, success, the friendly people of Tajikistan - peace and prosperity

Heydar Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

***

HIS EXCELLENCYMR. KIM JONG ILCHAIRMAN OF DEFENSE COMMIISSION DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Dear Mr. Chairman,

I extend my cordial congratulations to You and your people on the occasion of establishment of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

I hope that the relations of friendship and cooperation established between our countries will be developing for the two people’s welfare.

I wish you sound health, success, Your country - peace and prosperity.

Heydar Aliyev,

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.***

HIS EXCELLENCY MR. ILHAM ALIYEV PRIME MINISTEROF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

Your Excellency,

I have the great honor in conveying to you my warmest congratulations on the occasion of your appointment as Prime-Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The friendly relations between our two countries, over the years, have been developed in various fields. I fervently hope that during your tenure such cordial relations shall be further enhanced for the advantage of both our peoples.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and best wishes for every success in the discharge of your future duties.

Megawati Soekarnoputri

President of the Republic of Indonesia.

***

MR. ILHAM ALIYEV PRIME MINISTER AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC

Dear Ilham Heydarovich,

On behalf of the Government of Moscow and on my own behalf I cordially congratulate you on your appointment to the high governmental post of Prime Minister of Azerbaijan. I am confident that the constructive and weighted policy pursued by President of Azerbaijan will be imbued with practical substance – cooperation with partners to whom Moscow also relates itself. I hope that our joint efforts for realization of the agreements on development of diversified mutually beneficial ties will give renewed impetus to movement on the way of strengthening the economical prosperity, raising our peoples’ welfare. I wish you, esteemed Ilham Heydarovich, good health, great successes in your responsible work and peace and prosperity to friendly Azerbaijani nation.

Yuriy Luzhkov,

Mayor of Moscow.

Moscow, August 7, 2003

***

ILHAM ALIYEV PRIME MINISTER AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC

Excellency,

It gives me great pleasure to convey the most heartfelt congratulations of the Egyptian people, government and myself on the occasion of your appointment Prime-Minister of Azerbaijan. I am confident Mr. Prime Minister that the future will witness more cooperation and further strengthening of the bilateral excellent relations already existing between our two countries for the benefit and prosperity of the two people. I also seize this opportunity to wish you all success in your new office as well as our friendly people of Azerbaijan more progress and welfare. Accept – Excellency – the assurances of my highest consideration.

Dr. Atef Mohammad Ebeid,

Prime Minister of Egypt

***

MR. ILHAM ALIYEV PRIME MINISTER REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

I greet the decision of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan and congratulate you on appointment to the important post of Prime Minister of your country. I am confident that this circumstance will promote the continuation of the course, having been created by wise President Heydar Aliyev for ten years. In Georgia, we believe, that you are a worthy successor of your Great Father and you name is related to bright future of Azerbaijan.

With deep respect,

Nikolay Lekishvili,

Member of the Georgian Parliament

***

PEOPLE’S POET RASUL GAMZATOV

Dear Rasul Gamzatovich!

I congratulate you, an outstanding figure of modern literature, on the 80th birthday, and wish you a good health and welfare. Your creative activity, full of endless love towards people, ran through with lyrics and national colorfulness carries a deep philosophical essence and meaning. It subdues by its variety and by the fact how social challenges of times correlate with high demands of the art of word. Human values, reflected in your poetry make all of us, living complicated times, closer to each other, promote the dialogue of cultures and nations. It is difficult to imagine the 20th century without your creative activity, without nerve-strain of your verse. Your human poetry is, of course, a reflection of your unique personality. Avarian people are proud of you and of the fact that many other nations consider you as one of them. In our country, we appraise your creative work as a bright phenomenon, enriched images of moral world of a modern man. Love and worship of your fans in our country is connected with the fact that they have found high feelings in your poetry, connected with Azerbaijan and its capital, the city of Baku. At the same time, Azerbaijani art figures have continuously addressed your works to draw inspiration. Dear Rasul, Moral unity of our nations was perfectly reflected in your poetry. You have done all your best to strengthen friendship and cooperation between people of Azerbaijan and Daghestan. I hope that your talent and huge natural wisdom will make us happy in the future.

Best wishes,

Heydar Aliyev,

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

September 8, 2003.