Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2004
DUE TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF HEYDAR ALIYEV’S OIL STRATEGY,
AZERBAIJAN BECOMES STRONGER FROM YEAR TO YEAR, IMPROVES WELFARE OF
ITS PEOPLE AND OCCUPIES FIRMER PLACE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AT SOLEMN CEREMONY ON
THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF “OIL ROCKS”
[November 22, 2004, 23:14:11]
Dear oilmen!
Dear friends!
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
I congratulate all of you on the 55th anniversary of “Oil Rocks”
with best wishes for your good health, happiness and successful
activities. This is really great and remarkable event. 55 years ago,
oil was for the first time extracted in the open sea. Of course,
every Azerbaijani is well aware of this fact and is proud of it. As
early as XIX century, certain activities were initiated to explore
oil fields, but the first oil gushed out here in 1949. Since then,
oil industry of Azerbaijan has been rapidly developed, and today the
country is recognized in the world as an oil country.
As an independent country, Azerbaijan is successfully using its oil
potential. Had not practical steps been taken since 1949, large-scale
development of the Caspian fields initiated and relevant infrastructure
created, Azerbaijan would face serious difficulties in realization of
these activities today. Particularly, the infrastructure created in
1970s, which was modern for those times, continues to serve Azerbaijan
even today. It was during those years that drilling rigs, platforms
and other important units operating for the future of our country were
constructed. Of course, it was our national leader Heydar Aliyev who
initiated all these activities. It reaffirms – I said it more than
once, and want to say now – that a leader who loves his people and
works selflessly for their future will bring benefit irrespective of
political system. Today’s Azerbaijan is a product of Heydar Aliyev.
We remember well early 1990s as well. At that time, Azerbaijan
experienced severe crisis not only in oil but also in other fields.
If the “Contract of the Century” initiated by Heydar Aliyev at that
both politically and economically hard times had not been signed
despite all the pressures and threats, no development in oil or any
other sector of the economy would be possible today. Because, the
economy of Azerbaijan was then, is today and will be in the future
based on the oil factor; And this factor will play a key role in not
only the country’s economy but also its whole life for many years
to come.
Azerbaijan was a very risky place. There were the very few number of
potential investors in the Azerbaijan’s economy and country appeared
to be in a very difficult situation: economic crisis on the one hand,
occupation of its territories and civil confrontation on the other.
It was only as a result of Heydar Aliyev’s activities that it became
possible to persuade foreign investors, attract them and move the
country out of this complicated situation.
It has been 10 years since the “Contract of the Century”. Over these
10 years, ous country has been strengthened, its economy developed,
social problems are being tackled. Azerbaijan has managed to hold a
firm position in the world, and Azerbaijan is known throughout the
world as a very reliable and serious partner. Otherwise, if it were
not belief in Azerbaijan’s today and tomorrow, no billions of foreign
investments would be made in the country. These investments allow us
to develop not only oil sector but also other fields of the economy.
Azerbaijan is today one of the most dynamically developing countries
not only in the region but also in the world. The world’s largest
energy projects are now being implemented in Azerbaijan even though
some formerly were rather skeptical about them. The Baku-Baku-Tbilisi
oil pipeline, which once was called by some just a legend, today has
turned today into reality due to realization of the Heydar Aliyev’s
oil strategy. It is an issue of paramount importance for Azerbaijan,
future of our country and strengthening of its position in the
international arena. The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline will turn
out country into gas exporter, as well. Today, European consumers are
also among those who are waiting for the natural gas from Azerbaijan.
This project is being successfully implemented, as well, and we will
mark the putting the gas pipeline into commission in 2006.
A very powerful oil infrastructure has been created in Azerbaijan in
the past years. The drilling rigs, other objects of the infrastructure
will serve the people of Azerbaijan for decades to come.
Of course, we are craving for development all spheres of the economy.
The greater part of the work in oil sector has already been completed,
and our main task today is to develop the non-oil sector. The works
in this direction and its results are evident. Suffice it to say that
over 110 thousand jobs were open in the past year in Azerbaijan, 70
thousand of which are permanent. In a word, the step taken in 1994
has had a very positive impact on our country, and I am sure will
continue to do so.
The extra funds going into our treasury will allow to reach sooner
implementation of the social programs – rise in salaries and wages,
pensions and other social payments. After the presidential elections
I said the people of Azerbaijan would live better from year to year.
All the programs I declared have been implemented. I am sure that
all the promises made before the elections including opening of 600
thousand jobs, development of the Azerbaijan economy, development of
regions and as a result improvement of the people’s welfare will be
kept. This is the most important task of mine as a president, and I
am sure that we will reach the goal.
Today, I want to touch upon the activities of the oil sector as a
whole. In particular, I would like to mark the work of the State Oil
Company of Azerbaijan. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan has worked
hard to realize the oil strategy initiated by Heydar Aliyev. The huge
work has been done in all spheres including both cooperation with
foreign companies and its own projects on oil fields development.
While familiarizing myself with the situation in the Oil Rocks, I have
made certain of ongoing development. Despite, oil has been produced
here for 55 years, and the largest production volumes left in the
past, it nevertheless, has increased in the past years. Today, I also
familiarized with oilmen’s living conditions. I saw new buildings,
repaired old ones, and that social issues are on the focus of
attention, the oilmen’s salaries are quite high. They are at least
three times more as compared with average salaries in Azerbaijan.
I am very happy and proud spending a part of my life among oilmen
working for the State Oil Company. These years are very valuable and
dear to me, because I need the experience, knowledge and friends I
found then even today. In this high post of president, I consider
myself a representative of oilmen.
Dear friends, today is really a great holiday, a remarkable,
historical event. I am sure the Oil Rocks will serve the people
of Azerbaijan for many years to come. Of course the volume of oil
produced here is not large enough, but all know well that no a large
oil or gas project is possible in Azerbaijan without the Oil Rocks.
That is why we should know that the significance of the Oil Rocks
must remain on the same level.
I would like to touch one more question. The State Oil Company
advanced certain proposals concerning increase in production of both
oil and gas. Of course, we need large financial resources, and we
will do find them. I am sure if we start working at these projects
from the next year, we will manage to increase oil and gas production
in Azerbaijan in a short period.
Azerbaijan is being strengthened improving its economic situation
from year to year. The country’s place in the international arena is
getting firmer, as well. We are also taking measures for resolution
of our hardest problem, the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. As you know, Azerbaijan put the issue on the agenda of
many international events. The report and draft resolution prepared
by the Council of Europe reflect reality i.e. reveal Armenia as an
aggressor. The issue concerning the situation in the occupied lands
put on the agenda of the United Nations was a hard blow to Armenia.
Armenia was the only country to vote “against”. We will continue our
efforts to reach fair solution to the problem for the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan to be restored, our compatriots – refugees
and IDPs returned to their homes.
Please, accept once again my heartfelt congratulations on this
wonderful jubilee, and best wishes for good health, happiness and
new successes in and victories.