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"The Azerbaijani state and the people of the country will never grant
independence to Daqliq Qarabaq"
ANS
01.01.2009 11:47
President Ilham Aliyev congratulating Azerbaijani people on the
occasion of Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis said.
Ladies and gentlemen!
Dear fellow countrymen!
I cordially wish you a happy new year!
The year 2008 is ending. It has been very successful for our country in
terms of overall progress of Azerbaijan. In 2008, our economy continued
to develop at high pace. I can say that over the past four years
Azerbaijan has been the world`s number one in economic growth. This is
a great achievement enabling us to successfully resolve all economic,
infrastructure and social questions. It was not surprising that in
2008, the World Bank named Azerbaijan as a top reformer in the world.
It shows that the serious, deliberate economic reforms being
implemented in Azerbaijan yield fruits, and Azerbaijan has great
international prestige and is held in great respect around the world.
Azerbaijan takes all necessary steps to develop its economy. The
government provides support to development of entrepreneurship that
will even increase in the years to come. Today, thanks to this support,
private sector constitutes 85 percent of Azerbaijan`s economy. It is a
great achievement demonstrating that political and economic reforms in
Azerbaijan serve overall progress of our country and make it stronger.
In the followi
ng years, we will continue paying much attention to
economic development, and, I am sure, will cope with all outstanding
tasks.
The State program of socio-economic development of regions implemented
in our country has also been completed successfully. All the goals set
forth in the program have been achieved. When adopting the program we
were planning to open 600,000 new jobs. It is with a sense of great
pride that I can say today that over the past five years, the number of
new jobs has reached 750,000 giving a tremendous momentum to
development of the regions. Our regions have seen big improvements due
to realization of new infrastructure projects and construction of
social objects. All this contributes to achieving overall progress in
Azerbaijan, in all of its regions.
Big attention has been paid to agrarian sector. We have taken
practically all necessary measures to ensure food security, and I hope,
in a year or two, we will fully supply ourselves with food products.
The reforms being implemented in the agrarian sector, the government
support for farmers, privileges and loans provided to them ` all are
the factors, which ensure our accomplishments.
Along with this, big attention is paid to social policy in Azerbaijan.
Yes, our life is based on the market economy, and this is a pledge of
our success. But at the same time, Azerbaijan`s authorities have a
strong will to realize all social programs, and we are doing
that.
The past five years have seen a boom in construction of social objects
in Azerbaijan. Over the period, 1,600 new secondary schools have been
built in the country, and this course will be continued in the coming
years. New modern, well-equipped medical centers have been built,
practically, in all regions of the country, to provide people with
high-quality medical services. It also is the result of our social
policy.
Implementation of a targeted social assistance program is underway that
is of great importance as well. The number of those in poverty in
Azerbaijan has reduced from 49 to 16 percent over the past five years,
and I am convinced, it will be even less according to the 2008
outcomes. However, as long as there are citizens living in poverty, the
government must do everything possible to help them.
That is why the targeted social assistance program will be continued,
and I am sure that such social evil as poverty will be completely
eliminated in Azerbaijan.
In 2008, minimum wage and pension were increased 50 percent, and this
policy will be continued in the following years. We must do all
possible for our citizens to live better.
We create conditions for those engaged in business. But the citizens
who work at state-funded organizations should also be provided with
necessary maintenance, and we will continue to work in this direction.
All necessary actions have been taken in 2008 to resolve social
proble
ms and increase employment of refugees and internally displaced
persons. In 2003, I promised that not a single tent camp would remain
in Azerbaijan. We have achieved it. Today, no tent camp exists in
Azerbaijan. Our compatriots, who earlier lived in terrible conditions,
today are provided with excellent houses. New villages, roads, schools
and medical centers have been built for them. In other word, we took an
important step towards elimination of this big social evil. And we will
continue this policy in the coming years.
We are making efforts to achieve fair resolution of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Daqliq Qarabaq problem within territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. In 2008, the UN General Assembly adopted a very
important resolution on the situation in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan.
Despite 3 out of 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council ` Minsk
Group co-chairs ` opposed this resolution, it was adopted by an
overwhelming majority of votes. On the one hand, it shows the strength
of Azerbaijan and its enhancing prestige. On the other hand, it proves
that justice must triumph.
The global community supports Azerbaijan, and I have no doubt that
resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Daqliq Qarabaq will
be based solely on the principle of territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. There is no other way. The Azerbaijan state and the people
of the country will never grant independence to Daqliq Qarabaq. Daqliq
Qarabaq has been Azerbaijan`s land from time immemorial, and we will
make every effort to `restore' territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We
can use both political, diplomatic and, if necessary, military means.
We have the right to do so. The international law guarantees it.
As you know, much work has been done in this area. Necessary actions
were taken in 2008 to build the army. Our military spending has reached
USD $2 billion and is going to rise in 2009. We are doing this; we must
do this because we live under conditions of war, which is not yet over.
The first phase of the war has finished and we have to be ready to
liberate our lands from invaders by any means. Military parade staged
in 2008 demonstrated our military power to everybody.
Azerbaijan successfully continued its energy policy in 2008. We managed
to solve energy security problems, and today, we are working to ensure
energy security of other states. It brings us both political and
economic benefits, opens up new opportunities for us. Oil and gas
pipelines such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum are
operating successfully. Azerbaijan successfully solved, one might say,
all oil and gas problems and achieved diversification of export.
Today, Azerbaijan`s oil and gas serve the country ` Azerbaijan already
supplies 85% of its domestic gas consumption. It provides us with
economic opportunities and increases our political power. The energy
sum
mit held in Baku in 2008 is a striking example of this.
The decisions made in Baku will not only strengthen Azerbaijan`s energy
policy but also help create a new situation in the region, Europe and
the world in general.
We effectively use these opportunities and I have no doubt that
Azerbaijan`s successful oil strategy will be continued in the following
years.
We are injecting huge funds in the energy sector. In the past five
years, Azerbaijan has managed to build six power stations. Restoring
and rebuilding some stations have increased our energy power. It was a
great success as well. In a word, the state of affairs in this sector
is pretty satisfactory. I am sure this successful policy will be
continued in the following years.
In 2008, we embarked on construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway,
which is of great historical significance. After long years of
discussions, we managed to start construction of this railway. Today,
Azerbaijani companies are actively involved in this project.
Construction of the railway linking Europe and Asia will strengthen
even more both economic and geopolitical position of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan will become an irreplaceable country for transportation. It
helps ensure our long-term national interests.
Other important events took place in transport sector. Two airports
were put into operation in 2008 in the cities of Lankaran and Zagatala.
New tankers are being purchased, motor highways are being built. All
these require huge funds. Today, the Azerbaijani state possesses such
resources. It is our successful economic policy and economic reforms
that created such conditions for us.
Dear friends, today is the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day as well.
This Day is marked by Azerbaijanis across the world. The Azerbaijan
state continues its efforts to make the world Azerbaijanis better
organized and strengthen their solidarity. I am glad that in the
countries where Azerbaijanis live they carry out their activities
within respective organizations. Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations are
getting stronger and effectively work to ensure our country`s
interests. At the same time, the Azerbaijan government makes every
effort to solve the problems of Azerbaijanis living abroad. We will
always support them, and Azerbaijanis living in other states may always
rely on their homeland.
2008 was the year of Presidential election. The people of Azerbaijan
expressed their will in a free and democratic manner. Availing myself
of this opportunity, I once again want to express my gratitude to the
people of Azerbaijan for the high confidence shown in me. This high
confidence and kind attitude makes me even more enthusiastic.
Five years ago, I promised the Azerbaijani people that I would do
everything possible for the overall development of the country. I will
be working for the sake of welfare of the people of Azerbaijan, for
developing Azerbaijan and strengthening our
state system. I want to say
again that the high confidence shown in me pleases and inspires me. I
want to assure the people of Azerbaijan that I will continue to do my
best to worthily serve my people.
Dear friends!
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Brothers and Sisters!
Once again, I cordially congratulate you on the World Azerbaijanis
Solidarity Day and wish you a Happy New Year. I also wish you good
health, happiness and new successes.
independence to Daqliq Qarabaq"
ANS
01.01.2009 11:47
President Ilham Aliyev congratulating Azerbaijani people on the
occasion of Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis said.
Ladies and gentlemen!
Dear fellow countrymen!
I cordially wish you a happy new year!
The year 2008 is ending. It has been very successful for our country in
terms of overall progress of Azerbaijan. In 2008, our economy continued
to develop at high pace. I can say that over the past four years
Azerbaijan has been the world`s number one in economic growth. This is
a great achievement enabling us to successfully resolve all economic,
infrastructure and social questions. It was not surprising that in
2008, the World Bank named Azerbaijan as a top reformer in the world.
It shows that the serious, deliberate economic reforms being
implemented in Azerbaijan yield fruits, and Azerbaijan has great
international prestige and is held in great respect around the world.
Azerbaijan takes all necessary steps to develop its economy. The
government provides support to development of entrepreneurship that
will even increase in the years to come. Today, thanks to this support,
private sector constitutes 85 percent of Azerbaijan`s economy. It is a
great achievement demonstrating that political and economic reforms in
Azerbaijan serve overall progress of our country and make it stronger.
In the followi
ng years, we will continue paying much attention to
economic development, and, I am sure, will cope with all outstanding
tasks.
The State program of socio-economic development of regions implemented
in our country has also been completed successfully. All the goals set
forth in the program have been achieved. When adopting the program we
were planning to open 600,000 new jobs. It is with a sense of great
pride that I can say today that over the past five years, the number of
new jobs has reached 750,000 giving a tremendous momentum to
development of the regions. Our regions have seen big improvements due
to realization of new infrastructure projects and construction of
social objects. All this contributes to achieving overall progress in
Azerbaijan, in all of its regions.
Big attention has been paid to agrarian sector. We have taken
practically all necessary measures to ensure food security, and I hope,
in a year or two, we will fully supply ourselves with food products.
The reforms being implemented in the agrarian sector, the government
support for farmers, privileges and loans provided to them ` all are
the factors, which ensure our accomplishments.
Along with this, big attention is paid to social policy in Azerbaijan.
Yes, our life is based on the market economy, and this is a pledge of
our success. But at the same time, Azerbaijan`s authorities have a
strong will to realize all social programs, and we are doing
that.
The past five years have seen a boom in construction of social objects
in Azerbaijan. Over the period, 1,600 new secondary schools have been
built in the country, and this course will be continued in the coming
years. New modern, well-equipped medical centers have been built,
practically, in all regions of the country, to provide people with
high-quality medical services. It also is the result of our social
policy.
Implementation of a targeted social assistance program is underway that
is of great importance as well. The number of those in poverty in
Azerbaijan has reduced from 49 to 16 percent over the past five years,
and I am convinced, it will be even less according to the 2008
outcomes. However, as long as there are citizens living in poverty, the
government must do everything possible to help them.
That is why the targeted social assistance program will be continued,
and I am sure that such social evil as poverty will be completely
eliminated in Azerbaijan.
In 2008, minimum wage and pension were increased 50 percent, and this
policy will be continued in the following years. We must do all
possible for our citizens to live better.
We create conditions for those engaged in business. But the citizens
who work at state-funded organizations should also be provided with
necessary maintenance, and we will continue to work in this direction.
All necessary actions have been taken in 2008 to resolve social
proble
ms and increase employment of refugees and internally displaced
persons. In 2003, I promised that not a single tent camp would remain
in Azerbaijan. We have achieved it. Today, no tent camp exists in
Azerbaijan. Our compatriots, who earlier lived in terrible conditions,
today are provided with excellent houses. New villages, roads, schools
and medical centers have been built for them. In other word, we took an
important step towards elimination of this big social evil. And we will
continue this policy in the coming years.
We are making efforts to achieve fair resolution of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Daqliq Qarabaq problem within territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. In 2008, the UN General Assembly adopted a very
important resolution on the situation in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan.
Despite 3 out of 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council ` Minsk
Group co-chairs ` opposed this resolution, it was adopted by an
overwhelming majority of votes. On the one hand, it shows the strength
of Azerbaijan and its enhancing prestige. On the other hand, it proves
that justice must triumph.
The global community supports Azerbaijan, and I have no doubt that
resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Daqliq Qarabaq will
be based solely on the principle of territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. There is no other way. The Azerbaijan state and the people
of the country will never grant independence to Daqliq Qarabaq. Daqliq
Qarabaq has been Azerbaijan`s land from time immemorial, and we will
make every effort to `restore' territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We
can use both political, diplomatic and, if necessary, military means.
We have the right to do so. The international law guarantees it.
As you know, much work has been done in this area. Necessary actions
were taken in 2008 to build the army. Our military spending has reached
USD $2 billion and is going to rise in 2009. We are doing this; we must
do this because we live under conditions of war, which is not yet over.
The first phase of the war has finished and we have to be ready to
liberate our lands from invaders by any means. Military parade staged
in 2008 demonstrated our military power to everybody.
Azerbaijan successfully continued its energy policy in 2008. We managed
to solve energy security problems, and today, we are working to ensure
energy security of other states. It brings us both political and
economic benefits, opens up new opportunities for us. Oil and gas
pipelines such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum are
operating successfully. Azerbaijan successfully solved, one might say,
all oil and gas problems and achieved diversification of export.
Today, Azerbaijan`s oil and gas serve the country ` Azerbaijan already
supplies 85% of its domestic gas consumption. It provides us with
economic opportunities and increases our political power. The energy
sum
mit held in Baku in 2008 is a striking example of this.
The decisions made in Baku will not only strengthen Azerbaijan`s energy
policy but also help create a new situation in the region, Europe and
the world in general.
We effectively use these opportunities and I have no doubt that
Azerbaijan`s successful oil strategy will be continued in the following
years.
We are injecting huge funds in the energy sector. In the past five
years, Azerbaijan has managed to build six power stations. Restoring
and rebuilding some stations have increased our energy power. It was a
great success as well. In a word, the state of affairs in this sector
is pretty satisfactory. I am sure this successful policy will be
continued in the following years.
In 2008, we embarked on construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway,
which is of great historical significance. After long years of
discussions, we managed to start construction of this railway. Today,
Azerbaijani companies are actively involved in this project.
Construction of the railway linking Europe and Asia will strengthen
even more both economic and geopolitical position of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan will become an irreplaceable country for transportation. It
helps ensure our long-term national interests.
Other important events took place in transport sector. Two airports
were put into operation in 2008 in the cities of Lankaran and Zagatala.
New tankers are being purchased, motor highways are being built. All
these require huge funds. Today, the Azerbaijani state possesses such
resources. It is our successful economic policy and economic reforms
that created such conditions for us.
Dear friends, today is the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day as well.
This Day is marked by Azerbaijanis across the world. The Azerbaijan
state continues its efforts to make the world Azerbaijanis better
organized and strengthen their solidarity. I am glad that in the
countries where Azerbaijanis live they carry out their activities
within respective organizations. Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations are
getting stronger and effectively work to ensure our country`s
interests. At the same time, the Azerbaijan government makes every
effort to solve the problems of Azerbaijanis living abroad. We will
always support them, and Azerbaijanis living in other states may always
rely on their homeland.
2008 was the year of Presidential election. The people of Azerbaijan
expressed their will in a free and democratic manner. Availing myself
of this opportunity, I once again want to express my gratitude to the
people of Azerbaijan for the high confidence shown in me. This high
confidence and kind attitude makes me even more enthusiastic.
Five years ago, I promised the Azerbaijani people that I would do
everything possible for the overall development of the country. I will
be working for the sake of welfare of the people of Azerbaijan, for
developing Azerbaijan and strengthening our
state system. I want to say
again that the high confidence shown in me pleases and inspires me. I
want to assure the people of Azerbaijan that I will continue to do my
best to worthily serve my people.
Dear friends!
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Brothers and Sisters!
Once again, I cordially congratulate you on the World Azerbaijanis
Solidarity Day and wish you a Happy New Year. I also wish you good
health, happiness and new successes.