PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN REPUBLICHIS EXCELLENCYMR. ILHAM ALIYEV
Accept, please, my deep condolence on passing of Your father – President Heydar Alirza olgu Aliyev. It is difficult to speak in the past on the man, whom I knew from my child years, and it is painful. A man that is prominent statesman of the former Soviet Union and has served our common Motherland for long years, and has led Azerbaijan in hard period.
Some politicians are voted by wisdom, and some – by heart. The people of Azerbaijan have voted for its son by both wisdom and heart. Heydar Alirza olgu completely and wholly devoted him to Azerbaijan and did everything that the star of Azerbaijan twinkled in the sky of world. There is no doubt that all the deeds he launched will be realized.
Heydar Alirza olgu, pushing aside the political conjuncture, has established the Azerbaijani-Russian relations on a long-term strategic ground and contributed strengthening of the friendly relations between our peoples.
I am saddened with you. I wish You fortitude in this hard time.
Sergey Stepashin,
Chairman of Counting Chamber of the Russian Federation
Moscow 15 December 2003