OFFICIAL NEWS
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJANHIS EXCELLENCYMR. ILHAM ALIYEV
I have gone through Your 20 August 2004 message. I share your value of the level of the Russia-Azerbaijan relations bearing the character of strategic partnership. The successful realization of the agreements reached in Moscow on expanding of the bilateral cooperation in various fields, including interaction in fuel and energy sector, which we consider as one of the priority directions of development of the trade and economic links between our two countries.
I thank you for the invitation to participate in the events on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the long-term development in the Azerbaijan Republic of the Caspian oil reserves.
Unfortunately, my schedule does not allow me to arrive in Baku. On this occasion, I have charged special representative for international energy cooperation, ambassador I.Kh. Yusifov with participating in the solemn events.
Please, dear Ilham Heydarovich, accept my best wishes for Your good health and well-being.
Sincerely,
Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation
Moscow, 18 September 2004