Statements by heads of state were added (first version was posted at 17:56)
Following the completion of a ceremony of signing Azerbaijani-Romanian documents on Monday, a ceremony was conducted to present the highest medals to the President of Romania Traian Basescu and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the official website of the Azerbaijani President reported.
On April 18, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed the Order on awarding President of Romania Traian Basescu, who is on official visit to Azerbaijan, with the "Heydar Aliyev" Order.
President of Romania has been awarded with the highest Order of Azerbaijan "for special merits in development of relations of friendship and cooperation between Romania and the Azerbaijan Republic".
"Mr. President, You are awarded with the "Heydar Aliyev" Order, which is the highest award of the Azerbaijani State," President Ilham Aliyev said at the ceremony.
The President said Romania and Azerbaijan have strategic relationships, which were again testified by the documents signed today. "You have a great contribution to the development of these ties, and the people of Azerbaijan are well aware of You. We heartily applaud Your position on Azerbaijan. For Your great merits in the development of relations between the two countries, today I present You with this highest award," said Head of State.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev presented the "Heydar Aliyev" Order to Romanian President Traian Basescu.
President Traian Basescu announced a decision taken to award the Head of the Azerbaijani State with the rank Grand Cross of the Romanian National Order for Loyal Service. He said that this is a high award. Traian Basescu said that President Ilham Aliyev became the second head of state to be awarded with such an award.
During an official visit to Romania in 2004, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was presented with the highest award of this country - the National Order "Star of Romania". According to Romanian legislation, the National Order for Loyal Service is given to those previously awarded with the Order of the "Star of Romania".
President Traian Basescu presented to the Head of the Azerbaijan State the rank Grand Cross of the Romanian National Order for Loyal Service.