Official letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, read by Amb. Aden

25.04.2008

Dear Mr. Bagirov,

The century-old activities of the Nobel brothers bear witness to the intensive contacts between our two countries during this period in time – a period in which also other Swedish companies were present in Baku, such as Ericsson and Atlas Copco. The re-inauguration of Villa Petrolea forms a welcome sigh of the resumed and deepened relations between Sweden and Azerbaijan. The incoming Swedish trade delegation, which will visit Baku in the autumn, is yet another sigh of this positive development.

On behalf of the Swedish government I want to express my gratitude towards the Baku Nobel Heritage Fund and to you as its director, for the efforts undertaken to renovate Villa petrolea and honour the memory of the Nobel brothers by opening a Nobel museum. Your undertakings will contribute to the deepening of the Swedish-Azeri relations and will also bring forth important experiences of the social engagement which characterized the work of the Nobel brothers.

I note with contentment that Swedish and Azeri organizations have commenced cooperation in order to make historical Swedish-Azeri trade relations available to scientists, researchers and the broader public through a common archive project.

It is my wish to be able to visit Baku, Villa Petrolea and the new Nobel museum in the near future. I wish the Baku Nobel Heritage Fund and you all the success in your future endeavors.

Carl Bildt
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden