I cordially greet all of you - participants of the 9th assembly of the Eurasia Summit and wish success to the Summit.

The traditional Eurasia Summits passed under the auspices of fraternal Turkish leadership and organizational support of Marmara Group has had important impact on development of economic, political, humanitarian and cultural-moral relations among our peoples and states, and new useful ideas and initiatives in these fields. Attendance of many numbered representatives of the Eurasian countries at the assembly is evidence to the role of these actions in development of efficient cooperation and friendship in region.

It is especially delightful for me that the nationwide leader of Azerbaijan, late President Heydar Aliyev was elected as honorary chairman of the structure by the permanent attendee of the Summits - the Marmara Group of the Strategic and Social Studies Vagf, for his merits in strengthening of political, economic and cultural ties and regional cooperation among the Turkic speaking nations. Highly assessing the Eurasia Economic Summits, Heydar Aliyev has participated and made speech at its Second Assembly, and later always kept these actions in focus. Adhering this policy, the Azerbaijan leadership and will further do its best to ensure development of bilateral and regional cooperation in all fields, welfare, peace and security in our region.

In the present world, requirements of globalization and integration processes urge that all states and nations should closely cooperate in political, economic and humanitarian spheres, to ensure with joint efforts safety of all peoples and countries, and coordinate their activities against aggressive separatism, terror and wars. I think, participants of the Summit will, from this standpoint, completely analyze current level of political, economic and humanitarian cooperation among the regional countries, focus on security problems and make certain suggestions for their settlement.

Currently, the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are high level and have reached strategic partnership. Economic opportunities and geographical position of both countries do not let in region any economic and energy-communication project to be implemented without their participation and will.

We should jointly use and benefit of these opportunities to make stronger and richer our states and countries.

The independent Republic of Azerbaijan actively participates at regional and global integration and cooperation processes, in power-communication projects, and is initiator and participator of many of them. Construction of the gigantic power project of the century - Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, architect of which is our nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev has already completed and soon we shall put it into operation. This year also will be commissioned another large power project Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline. Other works are successfully underway to restore the large transport-communication corridor - the Great Silk Road. The Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway construction of which we are going to launch shortly will be a landmark event in life of region. I think full operation of all these projects will give new impulse to regional cooperation, bring closer our countries and nations.

Once again I wish success to the Assembly of Summit, hope for its important ideas and initiatives for regional and international cooperation.

Ilham Aliyev,

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 5 May 2006