Dear women!

Dear mothers and sisters!

I would like to heartily congratulate all the women of Azerbaijan on the International Women's Day and wish you all good health, happiness and every success.

Remaining committed to their spiritual nature, Azerbaijani women have always adequately protected the greatness of their name, a symbol of tenderness, sublimity and beauty. Throughout history, they have written brilliant pages into our past thanks to their wisdom, hard work and purity. It is thanks to the grandmothers and mothers who have honorably guarded the purity of our language, our national and spiritual values that the spiritual and cultural heritage and a treasure of our folk customs and traditions have overcome the persecution and ordeals of difficult times and survived to this day.

The acquisition of the right to elect and to be elected earlier than elsewhere in the world and the first steps in the various fields of culture, art and science are a clear indication of the level of cultural and intellectual potential of Azerbaijani women. It is noteworthy that our young women and girls, as worthy successors of these achievements, provide for a continuity of generations.

I am very pleased to note that women have made an invaluable contribution to all the major achievements of the independent Azerbaijan. As has been the case at every stage of our history, the country’s women are still very actively involved in the creative work which does not stop for a moment and make a tangible contribution to the public, political, socioeconomic, scientific and cultural processes taking place in the country and to the uplifting of our motherland. This holiday has become an important event in the life of our nation because of the honorable place and standing of Azerbaijani women in the modern face of our society.

I do believe that in today's globalizing world with its rapid changes, you will always work hard for the perpetuation of our cultural and moral wealth and continue to pay special attention to educating the young generation in the spirit of devotion to the ancient traditions, national ideology and the ideals of statehood for the future development of the country.

Happy holiday!

Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku city, 4 March 2013.