On behalf of deputies of Milli Majlis and on my personal behalf, I cordially congratulate You on the anniversary of acting as the President of the Azerbaijan Republic and on the occasion of 13th anniversary of our state independence, I wish you new successes in the grandiose work done by you in the name of further strengthening and development of the independent Azerbaijan state which was left to us by our national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Marking 13th anniversary of independence, we once again look back to the way passed by our people for construction of a free, independent, sovereign state, difficulties that it faced on this way, to the successes achieved by it. The whole period of the newest history of Azerbaijan is connected to the name of our national leader Heydar Aliyev. Thanks to his ingenious administrative abilities and intense work in 1969-1982, during his first management of the Republic, our country experienced progress in all spheres of life - in economy, science, culture, education. For the short period of time, Azerbaijan has passed the way of development equal to century. The favorable conditions created by our national leader have started potential force of society, and therefore, in consciousness of our people there was a true awakening national advantage. During this period, due to foresight and wisdom of Heydar Aliyev, there was laid strong base for the future state independence of Azerbaijan.

At the end of XX century, when our people regained independence, it could keep this sacred gift only due to the genius and will of Heydar Aliyev. In terrible June days 1993, when the destiny of our statehood, when our freedom and independence have faced monstrous danger, our national leader on call of the insisting people has come back to power in the country, and it has rescued the Azerbaijan Republic which was on the edge of war and destruction. Due to Heydar Aliyev’s saving mission, our state got rid of threat to be erased with the political map of world, has avoided of the destiny the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic faced in the beginning of XX century, has shown to all world that can keep the statehood.

The policy whom our national leader with great foresight and wisdom carried out after the historical returning to authority, has caused eternity, irreversibility and indestructibility of independence of Azerbaijan. In our country, large-scale reforms are carried out, and the democratic, legal, secular state is being constructed. Principles of civil society and market economy have been established, and supremacy of law, protection of human rights and citizen, freedom of speech, views, and political pluralism provided.

New oil strategy and strategy of economic development has been prepared, and signed more than 20 contracts on development of power resources in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian. There was a transition from economic recession to consecutive development. Our country became the initiator and the participant of huge economic projects, has turned to leading force of projects of restoration of the historical Silk Road, laying of the main export pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and gas pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum.

Negotiations on peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict have begun on the basis of norms and principles of international law, in particular, the major among them is the principle of inviolability of borders and territorial integrity of the states. For achievement of support of the fair cause of our people necessary measures on global scale have been undertaken, our country has taken a worthy place in the international community. The Azerbaijan Republic became an equal member of many authoritative international organizations, including the United Nations, OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the Commonwealths of Independent States, the Organizations of Economic Cooperation, the initiator and the active participant of regional structure GUUAM.

Meeting today the 13th anniversary of the state independence of the Azerbaijan Republic, our people once again with feeling of gratitude recollects invaluable merits of Heydar Aliyev who has devoted all life to protection, strengthening and development of the Azerbaijan state, and who is among the greatest persons of our history. His six-ten years' grandiose activity including in political treasury of the world, has played an exclusive role in realization of dream of independent statehood, which by centuries was desired by Azerbaijan people.

Dear Mr. President!

One of the most significant events, which have occurred these days in the political life of our country, is the anniversary of your activity in the post of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic. On October 15 last year, our people has voted at presidential elections for You, having acted thus for continuation of the political course of Heydar Aliyev leading Azerbaijan to the happy future. This historical event, which has put in pawn the beginning of a new stage in democratic development of Azerbaijan, being logical continuation of our way of development, has provided political continuity representing at the present stage vital value for our state.

In spite of the fact that a year passed after presidential elections, is very short term for history, scale and the importance of the work done in our country under your management, allow to speak with full confidence that in the near future the Azerbaijan Republic which has reached progress on strong and indestructible basis, created by our national leader Heydar Aliyev, will turn in the most powerful state of region. The projects, which are carried out by you in the post of the head of the state, allow continuing successfully reforms in political, economic, social and cultural life of our country. It is undertaken measures directed on social and economic development of our regions, huge transnational economic projects in which our country participates, including the project of laying the BTC MEP. The big attention is given to industry, agriculture, and other branches of economy. It is perceived with great approval rise of well being of Azerbaijan people, opening of new workplaces, increase of wages, allowances and pensions, care of science, literature, art, sports are perceived.

Your foreign visits, fruitful negotiations held with heads of the states, politicians promote further strengthening of positions of Azerbaijan on global scale, guarantee support of our just cause, peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

Dear Mr. President,

The work done by you in the name of continuation of the political line of our national leader Heydar Aliyev, development of his ideas, has brought to you national love. Our people love you and have closely rallied around of you. We trust, that due to inherent in you to political experience, hardness and resoluteness you and henceforth will continue successfully a rate of our national leader Heydar Aliyev, will achieve the decision of all problems facing to our independent state.

Dear President,

On behalf of deputies of the Milli Majlis and on my personal behalf once again I congratulate You on the anniversary of presidential activity and on the occasion of 13th anniversary of the state independence of the Azerbaijan Republic, I wish you robust health, new successes in grandiose activity in the name of happy future of our state and people.

With deep respect,

On behalf of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic,

Murtuz Alaskarov,

Chairman of Milli Majlis

(The Congratulation was adopted at session of Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan Republic, October 15, 2004).