LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY FOR "CONTRACT OF THE

UNCLAS STATE 095513 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL AJ SUBJECT: LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY FOR "CONTRACT OF THE CENTURY" ANNIVERSARY EVENT (S/ES: 200916994) ¶1. PLEASE DELIVER THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY CLINTON TO PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV FOR THE "CONTRACT OF THE CENTURY" ANNIVERSARY EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 15. THE STATE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT PLAN TO RELEASE THE TEXT OF THE MESSAGE BUT HAS NO OBJECTION IF THE GOVERNMENT OF AZERBAIJAN WISHES TO DO SO. THERE WILL BE NO SIGNED ORIGINAL. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO THE PEOPLE OF AZERBAIJAN ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE "CONTRACT OF THE CENTURY" ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1994. THIS CONTRACT, WHICH SANCTIONED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AZERI, CHIRAG, AND GUNESHLI OFFSHORE OILFIELDS, AND THE SUBSEQUENT FORMATION OF THE AZERBAIJAN INTERNATIONAL OPERATING COMPANY (AIOC),WAS A LANDMARK EVENT IN INTERNATIONAL OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS A GREAT SUCCESS FOR INTERNATIONAL ENERGY DIPLOMACY. PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL ENERGY SECURITY REMAINS CRITICAL FOR THE EURASIA REGION. IN THIS REGARD, THE JULY 13 SIGNING OF THE NABUCCO INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WAS A MAJOR MILESTONE IN OUR JOINT EFFORTS TO OPEN THE SOUTHERN COORIDOR, WHICH WILL BRING CASPIAN GAS TO EUROPE. WE HOPE THAT AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY, AND OTHER INTERESTED COUNTRIES WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THIS MOMENTUM AND AGREE ON THOSE REMAINING ISSUES NEEDED TO MAKE THE SOUTHERN CORRIDOR A REALITY. AZERBAIJAN IS ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW AND EVEN MORE PROMISING PHASE OF ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND OTHER LEADERS IN THE REGION TO DEVELOP NEW OIL AND GAS RESOURCES AND NEW ROUTES TO BRING THOSE RESOURCES TO MARKET. SINCERELY YOURS, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON END TEXT. CLINTON