OFFICIAL NEWS
TO H.E. Mr. NICOLAS SARKOZY, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE
Esteemed Mr. President,
On behalf the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I offer sincere congratulations to you and your people on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Republic of France - Bastille Day.
The Azerbaijan-France relations enjoy all-round development. Our steps towards strengthening the intergovernmental relations are accompanied by dynamic and effective cooperation both on the bilateral level and within the European Union`s programs.
The humanitarian area occupies an important place in our multifaceted ties. In this sense, events, which you plan to hold as part of a “Season of Azerbaijan`s culture” in your country, will undoubtedly contribute to bringing our nations closer to each other, once more proving that their national-cultural heritage assumes a universal importance.
Mr. President, the fact that the results of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which led to the violation of Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity and occupation of our lands, have not yet been eliminated remains the most painful problem of ours. We pin great hopes on efforts of France as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and on you personally in finding a peaceful, prompt and fair resolution to the conflict on the basis of international legal norms.
With best impressions I recall our meetings and talks. I hope that you will visit Azerbaijan in the nearest future - when it is convenient for you - and we will meet with you in Baku.
On this important day, I wish you robust health, successes in your activities and all people of France prosperity and progress.
Respectfully,
Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, July 2, 2010