Baku, November 12, AZERTAC

On November 12, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Jeyhun Jalilov on his appointment as Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Elkhan Ibrahimov as Head of the Executive Authority of Nasimi District of Baku city, Natig Agayev as Head of the Executive Authority of Balakan District, Orkhan Mursalov as Head of the Executive Authority of Goychay District, Elvin Pashayev as Head of the Executive Authority of Gakh District, Vugar Novruzov as Head of the Executive Authority of Goygol District, and Elshan Hasanli as Head of the Executive Authority of Kurdamir District.

Speaking at the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- I am appointing you to various leadership positions in the regions of our country. Significant confidence has been placed in you, and I am sure that you will live up to it and will spare no effort to fulfill the tasks ahead through hard work and dedication.

Of course, great responsibility comes with great tasks. First of all, you must carry out all my instructions. Every time I appoint someone to a leadership position in the regions, my instructions should be the key guiding principles for them – above all, to serve the people and remain close to them. Everyone working in a leadership position, every official, must be humble. In life and in everyday activities, both they and their close relatives must behave in a manner that invites no criticism of our common cause.

Unfortunately, in some cases, officials cannot behave properly in society, show excessive arrogance, try to place themselves above others, thereby damaging their own reputation and tarnishing our state and its policy. At the same time, in some cases they get involved in corruption and bribery. The people of Azerbaijan are well aware that every civil servant who goes astray will ultimately be held accountable before the law. Regrettably, such cases still exist today. However, it must be clear to society that illegal actions will not go unpunished. Therefore, I ask you to take decisive action against misconduct, select reliable, professional, and morally upright people for our team, and demonstrate through your leadership in the regions that my choice was correct. Otherwise, necessary measures will, of course, be taken.

The key infrastructure projects in our regions are almost complete. A positive turnaround has been achieved by the state in recent years, through state investment programs. The implementation of several regional development programs has been successful. We can say that the situation with electricity – the primary area of infrastructure development – has been fully normalized in almost all our regions. Of course, there are still some issues related to renovating and repairing outdated infrastructure, but this is no longer a serious problem. The establishment of electrical infrastructure in all our regions, including the liberated territories, has created strong potential.

Highways now fully meet modern standards, and intercity roads are also in good condition. Necessary funds are allocated annually for the construction of rural roads. I cannot say that we have achieved the desired 100% result yet, but in many regions, roughly 70–80% of rural roads have been repaired and are of good quality.

Drinking water projects are well underway in all our cities. Necessary measures have been taken in the villages in terms of drinking water. Irrigation projects are underway, there is construction of new reservoirs and water canals, and the situation with irrigation is generally changing for the better. All other infrastructure projects, including social infrastructure ones, the construction of schools, hospitals and sports facilities are also progressing. In other words, we are addressing all these issues in the regions of Azerbaijan. A modern hospital is operating in every city, and all this, of course, requires both major funds and daily attention. Let me repeat that we have resolved these issues through state funding and the implementation of regional socioeconomic development programs financed from the state budget.

It is now time to resolve the issues that still exist in the regions and concern our people. Here too, the primary principle should be social justice. In every region and every village, people should see and know that justice always prevails. In the past, developments in our regions sometimes took a negative turn due to the improper actions and instructions of certain officials in central executive bodies. There is no trace of those officials left, so to speak. As a result of the personnel reforms carried out in Azerbaijan, particularly within the central executive bodies, the situation has improved significantly. Therefore, I am absolutely convinced that from now on, you will not receive any unlawful instructions from the center. Such cases did occur in the past. The officials who issued those unlawful directives and pursued illegal enrichment as their primary goal are now being held accountable in court. In a number of instances, there were cases of inefficient land use — land was often seized, and its designated categories were altered. Some officials even built residences on land suitable for cultivation — and, of course, all of this constitutes illegal activity.

However, I also know that some regional officials were compelled to carry out those illegal acts. Of course, the responsibility that was placed on them required a completely different approach. At the same time, it is true that in some cases these illegal acts were committed under the orders of corrupt, greedy, and insatiable officials at the central offices. But again, I say: as a result of the ongoing policy of reform and cleansing, I am now confident that no one will issue illegal instructions to you. Should anyone do so, inform me immediately; serious measures will be taken against those responsible.

In the regions, of course, employment issues are a top priority. Overall, Azerbaijan has carried out major employment reforms in recent years, and the unemployment rate has fallen. However, it is also true that migration from the regions to Baku and other large cities still persists. There are various reasons for this. The migration - people leaving rural areas for cities - is not unique to our country; it is observed in developed countries as well. Naturally, opportunities in big cities are greater and the standard of living is higher. All of this is understandable. Yet one of the reasons for migration from the regions to the cities is unemployment. The government is now taking various steps to provide people with jobs in the regions. We are creating enterprises, entrepreneurs are provided with low-interest loans, and a self-employment program has been successfully implemented. Tens of thousands of people have already been covered by this program.

Therefore, my demand from local leaders is that they work to create jobs and favorable conditions for business people. Of course, businesses need support. Because the development of local production not only paves the way to employment but also strengthens local production. Many important steps have been taken by the state regarding agriculture and tourism in recent times. This needs to be expanded further, especially in regions that are attractive for tourism. This should be the main factor of the economy, the regional economy, along with agriculture.

The environmental balance in the regions must be protected. Much attention must be paid to the environment. In principle, there are no serious problems with ecology in our regions. The main problems were in Baku, and we are successfully addressing them. The new panorama of Baku is clear evidence of that. There used to be an ecological disaster here. Both Baku and Sumgayit were considered the most environmentally polluted cities. Today, however, this is not the case. Baku and Sumgayit are now cities of parks.

We have relocated obsolete enterprises, improved oil-polluted areas, rehabilitated them, built parks. We have turned the Black City into the White City. Of course, there are other methods to ensure ecological balance in the regions. Illegal activities there are causing even more environmental damage than the oil and gas industry. Therefore, in order to curtail and eliminate illegal activities, I gave relevant instructions to the Presidential Administration, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. The altering of river courses and illicit extraction and production of construction building materials must be regulated - all such illegal activities must be stopped.

In other words, the regions of Azerbaijan must meet the highest standards today. Let me repeat that every citizen of Azerbaijan can clearly see the revival of the regions as a result of the work carried out in recent years – nine international airports, renovated, repaired and newly built railways, highways, power infrastructure, irrigation and drinking water projects, gasification. In other words, we have done all this work in recent years so that people can live better. It is necessary to pay attention to the people, share in their concerns, and always stand by their side. Visit all the villages personally and engage with the residents there. In other words, these are my requirements. Every time I appoint someone, whether as the head of an executive authority or another senior official, my instructions are roughly the same. Yet despite the trust I place in them, some officials choose to line their own pockets and pursue illegal enrichment. I am sure that you will live up to this high trust with hard work. A great responsibility rests on your shoulders. Some of you have already worked in senior positions and have experience. Some have been appointed for the first time. Therefore, I am confident that you will honor this trust through your work and earn the respect of the people. I wish you success. Thank you.

Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Jeyhun Jalilov: Dear Mr. President, first of all, we would like to express our deep gratitude to you for the high confidence you have placed in us. In recent years, there has been a special stage in the development of all the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. This is the result of your attention and care. We want to assure you and promise that we will duly fulfill all your tasks and instructions in order to live up to your confidence in a timely manner and ensure the implementation of these tasks.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Head of the Executive Authority of Goychay District Orkhan Mursalov: Dear Mr. President, we express our sincere gratitude to you again for showing great trust and appointing us to these positions. We will unconditionally carry out all the tasks of Your Excellency, the founder of our fully sovereign Azerbaijan, in our new positions conscientiously, with full responsibility and dignity. Thank you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Head of the Executive Authority of Goygol District Vugar Novruzov: Dear Mr. President, we will justify the great trust you have shown in us, keep alive the ideas of our National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the founder of the modern Republic of Azerbaijan, and serve you and the Republic of Azerbaijan with dignity.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Head of the Executive Authority of Balakan District Natig Agayev: Dear Mr. President, I would like to assure you that we will fully justify the great trust you have placed in us through diligent work to the best of our capabilities and knowledge and will continue our work with dignity and honor. Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Head of the Executive Authority of Nasimi District of Baku city Elkhan Ibrahimov: Dear Mr. President, I would like to express my deep gratitude to you for placing such high trust in us. I also promise that I will do my best to justify this trust. Thank you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Head of the Executive Authority of Gakh District Elvin Pashayev: Mr. President, thank you very much again for the high trust you have placed in us. We promise to fulfill all the tasks you have set before us with our knowledge and skills.

Head of the Executive Authority of Kurdamir District Elshan Hasanli: Dear Mr. President, I would like to express my gratitude to you for the great trust you have placed in us. I promise with my entire being that I will fulfill your instructions and live up to the great trust you have placed in us. Thank you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. Good luck!