Dear compatriots!
I warmly congratulate you on the holiday of Novruz, on this bright holiday eve I wish each of you spring mood, health and happiness.
Novruz as a national holiday, throughout many centuries was welcomed in each corner of our country with various public celebrations and ceremonies. Preservation of this holiday which is bright expression of boundless love to the Almighty, the world order, Motherland and nature, with all beauty of ancient traditions shows high honoring by the Azerbaijani people of the cultural-historical past and its deep adherence to national-cultural values.
Present arrival of spring on the Azerbaijani land coincides on time with anniversary preparations for the twentieth anniversary of restoration of our state independence. Carrying out already at the state level of the Novruz holiday which have passed test of centuries is one of the achievements reached by us on the way to freedom. Our republic, meeting in the conditions of the sovereignty the twentieth spring, in days of Novruz in the frame of the International Mugham Festival receives the mugham researchers who have arrived from various countries, khanendes and numerous visitors. The eternal and unique masterpiece of art of our people - mugham sounds in unison with updating atmosphere of the spring rising in the hearts of people feeling of belief and aspiration to creativity.
I extend to Azerbaijanis of the world my greetings on the occasion of Novruz holiday, and express belief in their closer unity round the idea of Azerbaijanism. On this holiday eve the people of Azerbaijan once again honor the memory of sons and daughters of Azerbaijan who fell for the sake of independence and protection of territorial integrity of our Motherland. I hope that the victories gained by Azerbaijan as an independent country, will please spirit of our martyrs.
I wish each house, each family, each citizen of Azerbaijan holiday mood and pleasure.
Happy Novruz! {nl}

Ilham Aliyev
President of the Azerbaijan Republic
City of Baku, March, 18, 2011