Heydar Aliyev: Dear friend Leonid Kuchma! I cordially greet and congratulate you on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of your birthday. I wish you good health and further successes in your activity of strengthening and developing the independence of Ukraine.
Leonid Kuchma: My honorable friend Heydar Aliyev, I thank you for your kind words. I am very happy that you have come to Yalta in order to congratulate me on the accasion of the 60th anniversary of my birthday. I would like to greatfully note the development of the mutually - beneficial relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Our personal relations play an important role in the strengthening of relation between our countries.
Dear friend, successful implementation of legal and democratic reforms under your leadership in Azerbaijan are appreciated in Ukraine. Democratic political, economic and social reforms have been carried out in Ukraine recently. We are interested in development of relations with Azerbaijan in all the spheres.
Heydar Aliyev: As President of Ukraine you have done a lot to strengthen its independence and to raise its international reputation. We attach a special importance to our relations with Ukraine, which is one of the big countries of Europe located on geographically strategic coast of the Black Sea. We are glad that Ukraine is interested in the use of the energy resources of the Caspian Sea. I think that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine is an important factor for strengthening and developing the independence of our countries. It is an important factor for the future of our countries. I am satisfied with the productive cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine within the framework of international organizations, European structures and the commonwealth of independent States. The positions of our countries coincide in many issues.
There have been traditional friendly relations between our nations. Now we use all the opportunities to develop these relations in economic, cultural and humanitarian fields. I am glad that Ukraine takes an active part in the establishment and development of transport corridor Europe-Asia, which is of great importance for our economic relations. Azerbaijan does and will do its best for the effective work of this corridor, the exploitation of the oil and gas fields of the Caspian Sea, and the economic benefits of these natural resources to the transporting countries, including Ukraine.
The restoration of the Transport Corridor Europe - Caucasus - Asia, in general of the Ancient Silk Road, is useful for connecting Asia and Europe. An international conference on the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia, within the framework of the TRACECA programme backed by the European Union, will be organized in Baku on September 7-8. Dear Leonid Danilovich, I hope that you will also participate in this conference.
Leonid Kuchma: Ukraine attach a special importance to this conference to be held in Azerbaijan. I will come to Baku and take part in this event with a great pleasure.
Dear friend Heydar Aliyev, we are aware that the Ukrainians living in Azerbaijan take an active part in the development of our countries.
Heydar Aliyev: As other ethnic groups in Azerbaijan, the Ukrainians living here are treated as friends and brothers. There is no discrimination. They take an active part in the public and political life of our country as citizens of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijanis living in Ukraine also appreciate the attitude towards them and feel themselves at home.