Dear Mr. President,

I have been deeply saddened by the news of the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister and outstanding statesman Meles Zenawi.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own I would like to express my sincere condolences to you, the family of the deceased and all the people of Ethiopia over this bereavement.

Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 24 August 2012