AZERI LEADER PLEDGES TO TRANSFER AWARD MONEY TO ARMED FORCES

Xalq Qazeti, Azerbaijan
[translated from Azeri]
Feb 6 2008

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said that he will transfer
the money (about 6,000 dollars) he received as Person of the Year
2007 to the fund to help the army.

At a ceremony on 5 February where he received the award established
by the independent broadcaster ANS and the National Hero Cingiz
Mustafayev Foundation, Aliyev spoke about various issues concerning
the country’s domestic and foreign policy.

He noted that Azerbaijan’s state budget in the past four years –
during his presidency – increased 10 fold, primarily owing to the
energy factor. During this period, poverty decreased by 16 per cent,
he said.

In the next 100 years Azerbaijan will be able to both provide
itself with gas and export it to other countries. Azerbaijan is now a
totally self-sufficient country and does not need anyone’s help, Aliyev
noted. Having said that three regional projects (an oil pipeline, a gas
pipeline and a railway line) have become reality, Aliyev stressed that
"without Azerbaijan’s participation, no project can now be implemented
not only in our region but in the larger region too".

Speaking about the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Aliyev said that no cooperation is possible with Armenia
until lands held by Armenians are liberated. He confirmed that
Azerbaijan is conducting and will continue to conduct an armament
policy. Azerbaijan is for the time being holding peace talks with
Armenia because it still have hopes but the entire Azerbaijani people
know how difficult it is to put up with the situation, he said. We must
be strong. Strong economy, strong army and strong military potential
will resolve the issue in our favour and we can see the first signs
of this already, Aliyev noted.

Azerbaijan plays a very important role for the preservation of
stability in the region. Azerbaijan’s efforts are aimed at stepping
up further the cooperation in the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea
basin and the Black Sea basin – excluding Armenia, he said.

Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan has business and friendly ties with
neighbouring countries – Russia, Georgia and Iran. He stressed that
work being done in Azerbaijan currently to develop democracy is at
the highest level possible and that there are all kinds of freedom
in Azerbaijan – freedom of speech, freedom of political activities,
and no restrictions.

The president said that Azerbaijan voluntarily made commitments to
international organizations but not to any other countries.

"Azerbaijan has not had and will never have any commitments to any
other country," he said.

He also denied media reports that Azerbaijan will face sanctions.

"These reports are not true. Sanctions cannot be imposed on Azerbaijan
and no pressure can be exerted [on it] either."

In conclusion, Aliyev praised the broadcaster ANS for its
professionalism.