SPEECH OF ALIYEV AT MEETING WITH STAFF OF SPECIAL STATE SECURITY SERVICE

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 5 2005

Dear soldiers, officers and generals,

I extend to all of you my heartfelt greetings and best wishes for
your glorious service to Motherland.

The National Guard of Azerbaijan was created after the country
restored its independence. In those years, the National Guard was
fighting selflessly against the Armenian occupants sacrificing their
lives for independence of Azerbaijan. The anarchy and chaos reigned
over the country questioning its very independence and future. The
turning point came in 1993 when national leader of our people Heydar
Aliyev returned to power in Azerbaijan. This allowed to re-establish
peace, stability and order in the country and paved the way for its
sustainable development. However, there were forces eager to plunge
the country into chaos and anarchy again.

We all remember quite well the coup attempts in 1994-95 suppressed
due to the courage of the national leader Heydar Aliyev and support he
had from the Azerbaijani people. The role of the National Guard then
was also great. Uniting around its leader, the people of Azerbaijan
achieved stability and managed to maintain it until now.

Stability is the basic condition for development of any country.

Social and political life in Azerbaijan is going well. Our country is
a rapidly developing one. The processes taking place in Azerbaijan are
decisive for the country’s present and future. Very important steps are
being taken towards improvement of the Azerbaijani people’s welfare.

Heydar Aliyev played a great in building of the Special State Security
Service and National Guard. It was beginning from the mid 1990s that
guardsmen were provided with logistical support, and considerably
improved their skills. Today, the process of army building is going
on rapidly. The yearly increasing military spending allows us to
maintain our military potential on a very high standard.

The 2006 military spending is going to be $600 mln against $300
mln in 2005 and 175 mln in 2004. This is a graphic evidence of the
governmental care about the army building, which foundation was laid
by national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.

Azerbaijan has great possibilities, possesses huge natural resources.

As you know, the new oil strategy initiated by Heydar Aliyev in 1994
have led to great changes in Azerbaijan. The dynamic development of
our country, rapid economic growth and improvement of the people’s
social conditions are the outcomes of that oil strategy. Of course,
the Heydar Aliyev Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is playing a key
role in maintenance and strengthening peace and stability in the
region, and, therefore, sustainable development within Azerbaijan.

This pipeline will create better possibilities for Azerbaijan bringing
in huge revenues to the country. From this standpoint, the National
Guard will have to bear vast responsibility. I am sure security of
this pipeline will be duly ensured in the future.

We should make it, and strengthen the defensive potential as we live
in conditions of war. Clearing of our lands occupied as a result
of aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, is the most important
question, the most important problem Azerbaijan faces. We aspire
to solve in the peace way the mentioned question. As you know,
negotiations are underway, however, the result is not present.

Creation of powerful military potential in that case is necessary. It
is equitable to our national interests. The potential of the Azerbaijan
army, which becomes the big force in region, becomes stronger. Further,
we shall support this rate of growth, even more to raise potential of
army, to increase the military budget and we shall achieve liberation
of the Azerbaijan lands.

Certainly, extremely important role in it is played by strengthening
economic potential, preservation of stability in Azerbaijan,
maintenance of social order. In the given direction, huge work is
carried out, and the role of National Guards in this cause is enormous.

The National Guards has protected great leader Heydar Aliyev
during the most difficult periods of the history of Azerbaijan –
in 1994-1995, has provided its protection and, thus, has protected
independence of the Azerbaijan state. Should there not be Heydar
Aliyev, if at that time he did not manage over Azerbaijan, existence
of Azerbaijan, as the independent state would be in doubt. And today,
the National Guards, Special Service protect me, the President and
Supreme Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Azerbaijan
Republic. My safety, and, thus, provided stability in Azerbaijan.

I do not doubt that all accepted decisions will be executed, and the
goals will be achieved. Azerbaijan develops very intensively. We have
great prospects. However, the happy future of our country depends on
all of us. All of us, everyone on the place, should aspire to bring
contribution to strengthening of the state independence of Azerbaijan.

Social questions of National Guards and Special Services also find
solution. To the given questions, we pay big attention, salaries raise,
the material base becomes stronger, at the same time we solve household
problems of employees. So it also should be. Azerbaijan develops,
in our country enormous work is carried out, and each citizen, in
particular, each person who is taking place on military service should
live well. It should not have household problems, and it should receive
the good salary and adequately serve. I am confident that creative work
going in our country, dynamics of development will allow us to achieve
all targets, comprehensively to strengthen our country. Economic
development, social justice, development of political processes in
a normal way and protection of stability, calmness and safety of our
country are the most important questions in the years ahead.

Azerbaijan will become a rich, powerful state. Now, in the world
there are new threats, and new challenges. In some cases, processes
going in the world result in very bitter consequences. In the various
countries there are monstrous acts of terrorism. In the places,
which took place near our borders, it is possible to tell, acts of
terrorism are made on a regular basis. But Azerbaijan is a space
of stability. Azerbaijan is space of safety. And we should protect,
and we protect this stability. We have opportunities for this purpose.

First of all, patriotism of Azerbaijani people, normal work of
the Azerbaijan military men and law enforcement bodies, operative,
and also the technical and other actions spent for prevention of the
negative facts which can take place in Azerbaijan, allow us to support
this peace and stability in Azerbaijan both now, and henceforth.

At all times, and during management of Azerbaijan in 1970s, our
national leader Heydar Aliyev had huge merits before the Azerbaijani
people. All life of the national leader – in 1990s as the President
of Republic, has provided development of Azerbaijan, has achieved
that Azerbaijan became a worthy member of the world community,
consist in service to people. One of the major among all carried
out works will be that in Azerbaijan stability, calmness, the peace
has been established. In Azerbaijan, has been created a strong army,
and the military men are capable to solve all tasks put before them.

Dear friends!

Dear soldiers, officers, generals!

Dear guardsmen!

Once again I warmly welcome you and wish successes in your honorable
service in the name of Motherland. Thanks.