Dear staff members of security bodies,

Dear veterans,

I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of your professional holiday, and extend all of you my best wishes.

Created 86 years ago, the security bodies of Azerbaijan, passing through contradictory and difficult, at the same time glorious way of development, have turned from small division to one of the basic foundations and institutes of statehood of our independent republic - the authoritative power structure providing safety of national interests.

Heydar Aliyev’s traditions, forming from the middle of the last century in security bodies the idea of true fidelity to the Motherland, the state and people, and today live, very successfully and resolutely continued by you. It is significant that our national leader for the first time began his labor activity from security service, becoming during work in this organization, and subsequently - management of Republic of the self-denying propagandist of the ideas of Azerbaijanism, the founder of the process of staffing all spheres, including bodies of special services with the national staff. Your professional holiday also has been founded by the Order of President Heydar Aliyev.

The staff of security bodies of Azerbaijan has exemplary merits in strengthening statehood, reliable protection of national interests in political, economic, social, scientific, and cultural and other vital spheres.

During prompt development of political processes on international arena, in region and society, conflicts in region of interests of the foreign states and some circles, existence of the new threats caused by globalization, in particular, of continuation of the aggressive Armenia hostile and terrorist policy against our people, fall on bodies of special services of Azerbaijan great responsibility, they have task of realization of the urgent measures directed on the solution of the important problems.

Assignment before the holiday to group of employees of the Ministry of National Security of high military ranks, their conferment with high awards and medals serve as evidence of your devoted service to people and the state. I believe that you and henceforth will mobilize all efforts for successful realization of the political course directed on progress of the Azerbaijan Republic as democratic and jural state, will be active participants of the cause of preservation of stability and creation of conditions of full safety in the country.

Once again I congratulate you on the occasion of your professional holiday, I wish all of you long years of life, health, happiness, new successes in performance of honorable tasks in the name of the further strengthening of the Azerbaijan state at the stage of stability and development, updating and modernization.

Ilham Aliyev,

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, March 28, 2005