Makhachkala, December 27, 2016. On December 26, Dagestani Head Ramazan Abdulatipov came to Baku at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the press service of Dagestani Head and Government administration reports.

Having greeted Dagestan delegation, the President of Azerbaijan noted the significant contribution of Ramazan Abdulatipov to the development of good-neighborly relations between Azerbaijan and Dagestan.

"Azerbaijan highly appreciates You as an experienced wise politician, leader of the fraternal region, a person who is doing a lot to preserve and to strengthen the friendly relations between the peoples of Dagestan and our country.

Besides, You have initiated that one of the streets in Dagestan was named after my father - Heydar Aliyev and a monument to Aziz Aliyev was inaugurated in Makhachkala. To collaborate with Dagestan has a special meaning for us. Dagestan, from all regions of Russia, is the nearest and dearest republic for us."- Aliyev said.

Ilham Aliyev also congratulated Ramazan Abdulatipov with the 70th anniversary and handed to him the Order of "Dostlug" (Friendship).

"You are the first head of Dagestan, awarded with the state award of our country. You’ve sincerely earned it. You do everything to bring our republics even closer together ", - the President of Azerbaijan noted.

At the conclusion, the President of Azerbaijan congratulated the guests on the coming New Year. Recall, the Order "Dostlug" (Friendship), established in 2007, is awarded to citizens of the Azerbaijan Republic and foreign citizens for special merits in the development of friendly, economic and cultural relations between Azerbaijan and foreign countries, as well as for the special contribution to the strengthening of friendship between the peoples.

Ramazan Abdulatipov stated: "The common history and culture gather together Azerbaijanis and Dagestanis for thousands of years. Many generations of Dagestanis and Azerbaijanis made great contributions to the development of our neighborly brotherly relations. In many respects, we are actually friendly family."

Dagestani Head pointed out the role of outstanding individuals made a significant contribution to the strengthening of friendly relations between Dagestan and Azerbaijan and in general between the Russian Federation and neighboring countries:

"First of all, I consider Aziz Aliyev a great person who had played a huge role in the economic, public and cultural development of our republic"

Ramazan Abdulatipov thanked the Azerbaijani President for the high award and recalled his conversation with Heydar Aliyev:

"This was a person who was always interested in the situation in Dagestan and, in spite of everything, never challenged the importance of the Russian-Azerbaijani relations."

"It is necessary to note the tremendous role of Vladimir Putin in the development of our friendly relations. Besides, Azerbaijan hosted the Days of Dagestan that showed the favorable treatment of the Azerbaijani people and its leadership to Dagestan.

I think we have not fully used the potential between our republics. I believe the development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, relations with Dagestan are still ahead." - Ramazan Abdulatipov concluded.