AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 28 2004
SPEECH OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV
[May 27, 2004, 23:17:20]
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
Dear friends!
I intimately congratulate you on the occasion of the national holiday
of Azerbaijan – Day of Republic. I wish all the Azerbaijani people
peace, tranquility and welfare.
In May 1918, was founded the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Creation
of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was extremely important and
significant event in our history. For the first time in the Islamic
world the democratic Republic was created, Azerbaijan people found
its independence. Our country became a member of the world community.
It was extremely significant event. Our people very highly estimate
activity of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and contributions of
its founders.
But the Democratic Republic has existed not for long, after about two
years the young Republic has fallen. Only in 1991, after collapse of
Soviet Union, Azerbaijan regained state independence. It was very
difficult years for our country. In comparison with other former
Soviet republics Azerbaijan appeared in heavier conditions.
Aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, occupation of our lands,
negative processes in the country have led to occurrence in our
country of the extremely difficult position. Besides, as a result of
unsatisfactory activity of the incompetent, unable management, the
country experienced crisis – economic, political and military crisis.
The chaos, anarchy dominated. As a whole, Azerbaijan as the
independent state could be erased from the ground.
In such conditions, the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev
on demand of the insisting people has come back to power. All
negative tendencies has been put an end, political stability was
established, the social order restored, the illegal armed formations
disarmed, in the country the law and order was established. To carry
out all this, certainly, first of all was necessary the will of
Heydar Aliyev, courage and support of Azerbaijan people. Azerbaijan
people have believed in the leader, and with the support of people in
Azerbaijan, great creative work was launched.
For maintenance of development at each country, first of all, there
should be stability, supremacy of law, discipline. In Azerbaijan, all
these factors have been established, and our country has reached the
way of development. The country has received prompt economic
development. The major factor describing economy – volume of GDP for
last 7 years has increased for 90 percent. The large-scale program of
privatization has been carried out and this goes on.
Our country has made important steps for delivery of the oil
resources to the world markets. 10 years ago in this palace
“Gulistan» the “Contract of the Century” has been signed, and Heydar
Aliyev’s oil strategy started. After the “Contract of the Century”,
to Azerbaijan were put large foreign investments that has allowed
achieving all-around development of our country. Today, Azerbaijan in
comparison with neighboring countries, former Soviet republics is in
the lead on volume of foreign investments per capita.
After these projects, were realized other projects of Azerbaijan
representing great value for our country and entire region. There
started construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
representing great value for entire all world. For anybody it is not
the secret, that the initiator and the architect of construction of
BTC oil pipeline is the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev.
Not casually, members of the BTC Company named this pipeline after
Heydar Aliyev.
Azerbaijan managed to overcome international isolation. Once our
country was in the condition of isolation from the world, regional
processes. Azerbaijan managed to establish bilateral relations with
various countries and become valuable member of the international
community. Position of our country have become stronger, Azerbaijan
became a member of the various regional and international
organizations, takes active part in them.
The important steps have been undertaken in the field of army
construction. Until 1993, situation in the army was extremely
difficult. Azerbaijan had no army, there were separate formations
carried out independent activity. Today, the Azerbaijan army meets
highest standards, and it has turned to professional army and is
capable to solve any problem. Steps are undertaken in the field of
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
Ceasefire that has allowed us to develop our country in quiet
conditions has been achieved.
In a word, the work done in Azerbaijan for these 11 years, the policy
pursued for the country find positive acknowledgement. Azerbaijan
people gives its voices for this policy, approves it. This policy
lives and today, it is necessary to carry out this policy in
Azerbaijan long years in the name of the happy future of our
country”.
Then, President of Azerbaijan gave full analysis of socio-political
life in the Country after the Presidential elections, dwelt on the
international raise of Azerbaijan’s policy, on his visits to foreign
countries, cooperation with the international an regional
organizations, including the Council of Europe, European Union, NATO
and others.
President Ilham Aliyev also touched upon the urgent social problems,
in particular, poverty reduction, opening of new working places,
condition of the refugees and IDPs, cultural-educational aspects of
social life in the Republic.
***
Foreign ambassadors accredited in Azerbaijan, heads of religious
communities congratulated President of Azerbaijan on the occasion of
the day of Republic.
Ambassador of Georgia Zurab Gumberidze made congratulatory address to
the Head of Azerbaijan State.
President Ilham Aliyev met public representatives, MPs, men of
intelligentsia – writers, artists as well as sportsmen, and was taken
his photo in memory.
Chairman of Milli Majlis Murtuz Alaskarov, Prime Minister Artur
Rasizade, head of President Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev attended
the official reception.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress