The Russian President, now in Malaysia, telephoned Mr Aliyev to congratulate him on his election as President.
Mr Putin and Mr Aliyev discussed the prospects for the development of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. In this connection both sides expressed their determination to make every effort to promote progressive and all-round expansion of cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan.
Earlier in the day the Russian President sent a message of congratulations to Mr Aliyev, which reads in part:
“Your convincing victory in the election has shown that the people of Azerbaijan support the balanced programme of your country’s development and the foreign policy that you have proposed.
“Just as at our recent meeting in Yalta, I would like to stress the similar strategic interests of our countries, the existence of favourable opportunities for strengthening the friendship and traditional partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan. All that meets the interests of our peoples and serves as an important factor of security and development in the Caucasus Region.
“I look forward to active cooperation and the continuation of the substantive dialogue that we had conducted fruitfully and intensively with Heydar Aliyev.
”I sincerely wish you success in your responsible post of the head of state and I wish happiness and prosperity to the fraternal people of Azerbaijan.”