The Russian head of state expressed conviction in the congratulatory message to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev that “the line (aimed at a long-term perspective) on all-round strengthening of strategic partnership, fruitful and mutually advantageous joint work as well as on consolidation of traditional friendship meets the interests of peoples of our countries and makes an important contribution to strengthening regional stability and security”.

The message to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan notes that the year 2007 “has become an important stage in developing further diversified Russian-Armenian strategic partnership, as well as expanding cooperation in the economic and humanitarian spheres”. The Russian president also praised the vigorous activities of his Armenian counterpart in consolidating bilateral allied relations.

Congratulating Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the Russian chief executive emphasised that “the development of Russian-Belarusian integration cooperation continued in the outgoing year”. The countries “have been successfully implementing the line for raising its effectiveness and creating firm market mechanisms of partnership”. “Resolute steps were made to improve the economic foundation of cooperation. I’m sure that the upbuilding of mutually advantageous and pragmatic relations in this sphere will be a rock-firm basis for raising social and economic stability in the two countries as well as living standards and well-being of our nations,” the message also noted.

Addressing Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Russian leader expressed conviction that “the outgoing year confirmed a truly strategic nature of Russian-Kazakh partnership, was distinguished for efficient join work on promising projects in the fuel and energy sphere in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, expansion of border relations as well as effective cooperation in the international arena, in integration structures and in the Caspian”. “I’m sure that fruitful cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan will play, in future too, an important role in consolidating stability in the Euro-Asian space,” the Russian head of state stressed.

The message to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev notes that “Russia holds dear traditionally close relations with Kyrgyzstan, based on principles of allied relations and strategic partnership”. Putin also expressed confidence that “our joint efforts will continue the course for strengthening further diversified Russian-Kyrgyz relationship, serving reliably the interests of our states and security as well as stability in Central Asia”.

Congratulating Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, the Russian chief executive called attention to the fact that “the outgoing year was noteworthy for active and constructive work, aimed at deepening Russian-Moldovan cooperation” and expressed certainty that “the coming Moscow meeting will give an additional impetus to developing further diversified cooperation and partnership between Russia and Moldova”.

The congratulatory message to Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon notes with satisfaction that “the past year showed again rock-firm traditions of friendship and mutually advantageous cooperation, strategic partnership and allied relations between Russia and Tajikistan”. The Russian president also expressed conviction that Russian-Tajik partnership would dynamically develop, in future too, on the principles of mutual trust and respect, which fully reflects the desire of the two peoples to live in friendship and accord.

Addressing Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, the Russian head of state underlined that “the main result of the outgoing year has become further consolidation of mutually advantageous cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan as well as filling it with specific deeds, above all in the energy sphere”.

Praising the established trustworthy dialogue between the leaders of the two countries, Putin expressed confidence that it will be possible in future to boost positive and dynamic development of relations between Russia and Turkmenistan thanks to joint efforts and to bring all-round Russian-Turkmen relationship to a higher level in the interests of the peoples of the two countries as well as stronger stability and security in Central Asia.

The congratulatory message to Uzbek President Islam Karimov notes that “the past year was distinguished for important events in the development of Russian-Uzbek relations, based on principles of strategic partnership and allied relations”. “I praise our trustworthy dialogue and frank exchange of opinions on regional and international issues. Hope for its continuation in future,” Putin stressed.

The message to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko says, inter alia, the following: “I’m sure that the peoples of Russia and Ukraine, united by deep historic roots as well as centuries-long spiritual and cultural relations, should preserve and multiply all positive things that have been achieved in the joint history” and also expressed confidence that “Russian- Ukrainian cooperation will develop (thanks to mutual efforts) in the spirit of good-neighbourly relations, based on pragmatism and mutual advantage, since precisely this course reflects the desire of citizens of our countries to live in friendship and accord”.