The results of the past elections confirmed your reputation as an experienced and responsible politician, who realizes the interests and aspirations of the Azerbaijani people.
FIDE and your beautiful country have long established friendly and fruitful ties. The entire chess world remembers with great warmth the 42nd World Chess Olympiad in Baku. Sports community recognized it as the best in history.
The Chess in schools programme is actively developing, chess clubs are opened in the regions and international tournaments are held. The national team of Azerbaijan has repeatedly won the Championships of Europe. The reputation of the Azerbaijani chess school and its players is high as never before and, of course, it is your personal merit. It is with great pleasure that I will take part in the opening ceremony of the fifth super tournament in Shamkir on 18 April.
I wish you, dear Ilham Heydar oglu, good health, energy and success in your responsible post and I wish the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan progress and prosperity!"
On 13 April, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. It reads as follows:
"Dear Ilham Heydarovich! I wholeheartedly congratulate you on your convincing victory in the elections of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan! The trust that was once again extended to you by the people of your country was the logical result of your many years of work for the benefit of the state!
