The telegram said, in part:
“Azerbaijan has traversed a far from simple path of building a sovereign democratic state over the past years. The Azerbaijanian people can well be proud of their achievements in political, economic and social life, which have paved the way for the country’s growing prestige and international position.
“It is my belief that the policy of all-round expansion and the deepening of friendly and good-neighbourly relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, which has become the cornerstone for the successful development of a mutually beneficial partnership, meets the vital interests of our peoples and serves to preserve peace, stability and security in the Caucasus.”