Azeri leader vows to preserve stability, continue development

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
15 Jun 05

[Presenter] The New Azerbaijan Party held a street march from the
20 January underground station to Qalaba Square on the occasion of
Salvation Day today. The march, which was joined by more than 50,000
people, ended with a rally on Qalaba Square. The chairman of the New
Azerbaijan Party and Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, who joined
the demonstration, said the work being done by the organization he
is leading would ensure stability and development of the country.

[Correspondent over video of thousands of people gathered on Qalaba
Square] The New Azerbaijan Party held a street march from the 20
January underground station to Qalaba Square on the occasion of the
12th anniversary of Salvation Day today. Along with rank-and-file
members of the party, senior government officials representing the
party also took part in the demonstration, which was held under the
motto – In the name of a powerful Azerbaijan under Ilham Aliyev’s
leadership.

The arrival of the head of state and chairman of the party, Ilham
Aliyev, at Qalaba Square came as a surprise to many demonstrators.

[Video showed Ilham Aliyev walking through a crowd, shaking hands
with supporters and waving his hand]

After recalling the changes that have taken place in the country over
the last 12 years and the historic moments of June 1993, the head
of state said Azerbaijan had turned into a state which is capable of
saying its word in the international arena.

Touching on the Nagornyy Karabakh problem, President Aliyev said
Azerbaijan had already overtaken Armenia by many parameters and would
never come to terms with the loss of its lands.

[Ilham Aliyev shown addressing the demonstration] Azerbaijan has the
initiative in the negotiating process, political initiative is also
in our hands, law is on our side, the economic potential is in our
hands, the military might is on our side and the Azerbaijani people
will liberate their lands.

[Correspondent] The head of state said that in order to ensure
sustainable economic development it was necessary in the first place
to preserve the established stability. He noted that the Azerbaijani
people would respond to those interested in undermining stability in
the country themselves.

[Aliyev] Development must be continued in Azerbaijan. And the main
precondition for this development is the stability that we have managed
to establish in the country. We are safeguarding this stability and
we will continue to do that in the future too. And if someone wants
to undermine this stability, they will receive a due response from
the Azerbaijani people.

[Correspondent] The president said that our policy is based on the
will of the Azerbaijani people and repeated that a state supported
by its people is capable of progressing and developing. He added that
no power can divert the Azerbaijani people from this path.

According to the New Azerbaijan Party officials, although about 20,000
were expected to join the rally, more than 50,000 people eventually
took to the streets.