Barack Obama congratulates President Ilham Aliyev

"We are ready to help Azerbaijan to reach progress on peaceful settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict"

U.S. President Barack Obama has sent letter of congratulations to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, APA reports.

In the congratulatory letter U.S. President Barack Obama congratulated Azerbaijani President and Azerbaijani people on Independence Day: “May 28, 1918, independent Azerbaijan was an example for the international community as the first democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world. In connection with this auspicious occasion of Azerbaijan we also join this celebration," said the letter addressed by the President of the United States to the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

B. Obama in his letter also touched on the situation of human rights: "We call on Azerbaijan to assume the role of leadership in the defense of human rights and fundamental freedoms. We also are ready to help Azerbaijan to reach progress on peaceful settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict. It will significantly contribute to independent and powerful Azerbaijan”.