OREANDA-NEWS. December 25, 2009. Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Ilham Aliyev on his birthday. The two leaders also exchanged congratulations for the New Year.

They noted their satisfaction with the high degree of interaction between Russia and Azerbaijan, and expressed readiness to further strengthen their strategic partnership and multifaceted cooperation.

Earlier in the day, President Medvedev sent a telegram to the President of Azerbaijan. The congratulatory message reads, in part:

“For the people of Azerbaijan, your name rightfully symbolises the socio-economic accomplishments of the nation and its growing authority in the international arena.

I appreciate your sincere commitment to broadening strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan based on the centuries-old traditions of friendship and good-neighbourliness.

I am confident that the constructive attitude distinguishing our regular trust-based contacts is an essential factor promoting our multidimensional cooperation and consolidating stability and security in the Caucasus.”