GREETINGS

Message of greetings from D. Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation   Dear Mikhail Sergeyevich!   Please accept my congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of your 80th birthday. A political figure of world renown, you have played a special role in modern history. Major transformations in our country started thanks in large part to your efforts, and the policy in the sphere of international relations became more open and constructive. Today you are engaged fruitfully in public activities and you are making a considerable contribution toward enhancing Russia’s standing abroad. Good health and wellbeing to you, dear Mikhail Sergeyevich, and all the best to your family. My wife is joining me in this message of congratulations.   With best wishes, D. Medevedev   ***   From the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation   Dear Mikhail Sergeyevich!   Congratulations you on the occasion of your jubilee 80th birthday. Both in our country and all over the world you are known as one of the most outstanding statesmen of our era who have exerted a marked influence on the course of world history and who made a considerable contribution to enhancing Russia’s standing. Your public activities over so many years, the keen attention that you always give to large-scale charitable projects and your active participation in major international initiatives deserve the deepest appreciation. I wish you every success in all your endeavors, good health and all the best.   V. Putin   ***

UN Secretary-General's Letter on the Occasion of Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th Birthday

25 February 2011

Excellency,

I wanted to write to personally express my warmest regards and to join so many around the world in wishing you all the best on your 80th birthday.

I keep a rather faded piece of calligraphy on my desk that offers an Asian perspective on life’s milestones. It teaches that at 40 years of age, one comes into one’s own as a person. At 60, one has achieved the “soft ear” of a discerning and knowing listener who can make sound judgements, hearing both what is said and unsaid. But only at 80 years of age does one come into the full wisdom of life.

My sincerest congratulations to you on attaining this considerable milestone!

I have been thinking of you often lately as I closely follow events in the Middle East.

The great trendline of our era has been the quest of the people of the world for freedom and human rights. In that quest, you are of the greatest champions of democracy and human dignity. Your arrived on the scene in the 1980s like a proverbial meteor from outer space, changing so many things for the better. You proved yourself a man of extraordinary vision – a man of peace – a true global citizen.

Not many people can reach their 80th birthday having offered humankind so much. Your continuing work on climate change and building a green planet for future generations is yet another testament to your enduring vision.
Thank you for all your work to build a better world. My warmest regards and best wishes to you on this great day.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

BAN Ki-moon

Dear Mikhail Sergheevici,

Your birthday offers me the pleasant opportunity of addressing you the most sincere wishes of health, happiness and success in everything you have set forth to do. You have known, in your eighty years, both good and bad, happiness and sadness. You have given hope again to the world, at a time when mankind was at a crossroads. It was an act of great courage, dignity and humanism. For that you have the esteem and gratitude of the generations that have lived through those times.

I am looking forward to seeing you again in Munich, as well as in London, at the end of the month. What you do, through your foundations, promoting dialogue and cooperation, at a difficult moment, when we all suffer the consequences of a global economic and social crisis, is worth our respect and admiration.

I end here wishing you health, working power and the traditional "Happy Birthday!"

Ion Iliescu

Dear President Gorbachev,

I was thrilled to learn that you had received Russia’s highest honor. I cannot imagine any honor anywhere more fully deserved than this one. I often think, speak, and write about the wonderful achievements you’ve made. It was a great privilege for me to work with you during that era. Your fundamental human values, long-range vision, deep compassion, and unique problem-solving ability made the world a much better place. I and those associated with me will always carry forward the unique memories of your wisdom, leadership, kindness and generosity of spirit. So, my heartfelt congratulations!

I now live in Washington with my daughter and her lovely family. President Obama appointed her to head the Food and Drug Administration, one of our most important agencies. She is following in your footsteps with open-minded inquiry, scientific values and deep commitment to the shared values of humanity.

If you have occasion to get to Washington, I very much hope you will let me know and we could have at least a brief reunion. There are so many good memories and so much continuing benefit that will flow from your great leadership.

With the deepest respect, admiration and gratitude,

David A. Hamburg
President Emeritus
Carnegie Corporation of NY

See more greetings in PDF

File 1

File 2

File 3