Dear sisters and brothers,

I am greeting you all cordially and sincerely congratulating you on the opening of this beautiful Olympic Sport Complex. The day will come when the occupied lands of Azerbaijan are liberated, and I promise as a president of the National Olympic Committee, that the similar Olympic complexes will be constructed in each liberated region. Sport is rapidly developing in Azerbaijan, and the results our athletes gain in the international tournaments make us very happy. They worthily represent our motherland in the World and European championships, Olympic games and other international competitions. Over thousand medals have been gained by our athletes for the past six years. It shows that a huge potential has been created in the country in sphere of sport. Almost all international sport federations of Azerbaijan succeed in organization of their activity on a very high level. Our athletes participate in all international competitions, win, and every time they win, the National flag of Azerbaijan is hoist and National anthem is sounded, and these are the greatest prize. All the Azerbaijani people applaud and greet them with a feeling of pride. But unfortunately, there are those who regret these achievements. Who are they? Our opposition. Why? Because they believe as Ilham Aliyev is the president of the National Olympic Committee, the victories will bring him political dividends. That’s why they slander our athletes, those engaged in sport and sport governance. It indicates once again that their interests do not corresponds with those of Azerbaijan people. In spite of that, however, we ignore them, our goal is to develop Azerbaijan in all spheres including sport. To achieve the goal of course, favorable conditions should be created, and we have been doing it. This state-of-the-art Olympic complex is one a more evidence of that. Children, young people, sportsmen will go in for sports here. It will give them both physical and moral health.

So, sport in Azerbaijan is now of mass character. The similar Complexes had been built and put into operation in other regions of Azerbaijan. When we launched this program we wanted one of such complexes to be built in Garabakh as well. I am very happy that we have done it and we have come together for its opening today. Barda is Azerbaijan’s beautiful nook; it is dear for each Azerbaijani. You know that President of Azerbaijan esteemed Heydar Aliyev regularly visited Barda since 1970’s, paid constant attention to Barda and its people. I want to assure you, we will further show constant care and respect to Barda, we will together develop Azerbaijan.

I would like to express gratitude to Barda people because they are very warm and attentive towards refugees and IDPs who had been withdrawn from their native lands and settled in this region. People of Barda tried to create all possible conditions for them, despite of the fact that their opportunities are very limited. However, this care and attention, which they showed to refugees and IDPs deserve all kind of respect. I am sure that it will be like this in the future.

At the same time, we are aimed to construction of new settlements and villages for refugees and IDPs who have lost their homes as a results of Armenian invasion. Work is being carried out in this direction. As you know, new settlements have been laid in Bilasuvar region for refugees living in camps by Presidential decree. Recently when I visited that region, I was taking part in the opening of this settlement; 2600 families were provided with new modern homes.

Refugees from Fizuli placed in a refugee camp there were moved to newly constructed homes as well. I know there are three refugee camps in Barda. Approximately 3 thousand families or 12 thousand people live there. Our target is in termination of these camps and construction of modern homes for these families. No refugee camp will remain; refugees and IDPs living there will be moved to new modern houses.

For putting all these plans into life, we need strong economy in Azerbaijan. Economic reforms carried out by Heydar Aliyev started giving their results. Azerbaijan is strengthening economically, strong economic potential appeared in the country. As a result of agrarian reforms land was given to ownership to farmers. People dealing with agriculture know very well that it brings good benefits.

Privatization process is going on in Azerbaijan and tens of thousands of objects have already been privatized. They, on their behalf, are strengthening economy of Azerbaijan. I must say that today, private sector of Azerbaijan is very productive. GDP is made up by private sector by 75 percent. It is a good result and is the evidence of successful economic reforms in Azerbaijan. World leading financial organizations confirm this fact as well.

Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy is being realized in Azerbaijan. As a result of this strategy, Azeri oil is supplied to world oil markets. Oil pipelines are being laid. Currently, main export oil pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan is being constructed and we can say, a major part of works has been done and in the near future we will be taking part in its opening ceremony. It gives us an opportunity to make Azerbaijan stronger economically and richer.

As your know, Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan was created in the country. It was founded with the aim of accumulating revenues coming from oil, and spent, first of all, for solution of social problems. In addition, it is done like this. The settlement in Bilasuvar for refugees was constructed for finance of the Oil Fund. Here, in Barda, Agdam and other regions liberated from occupation, we will construct news villages for revenues of Oil Fund. This is Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy and Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy results!

I can tell you that this strategy is based on support of a major part of Azerbaijani people. At the same time, I would like to remind you that when these issues were discussed in 1994, 1995 even in 1996 in the Milli Majlis they were being rejected by opposition, which wants your votes today, and which destroyed the country and then escaped. I remind the time, I was already a Milli Majlis deputy, when we were discussing Shah Deniz project, Etibar Mamedov and his group quitted the Milli Majlis session, the man who is seeking for your votes today. Why he was doing that? Because he knew as well as Isa Gambar who started civil war and brought to bloodshed of our brothers, if plans and programs of Heydar Aliyev in oil sector come into life, in this case Azerbaijan will turn into a rich country. We were forecasting that time all results that we have today. The opposition, despite of the fact that they do not have enough brains, but anyway have some, realized that these actions will bring good benefits to Azerbaijan in the near future. There are two forces in the world not wishing economic development of Azerbaijan - Armenia and Azerbaijani opposition. Armenia does not want it because it realizes that after all these projects are put into life, Azerbaijan will become stronger economically, rich and powerful. It gives us an opportunity to resolve the question of Nagono Karabakh in our favor, according to all international norms.

Opposition does not want this development, because it realizes, if all outlined issues will be resolved, people of Azerbaijan will live better, will become richer, and would never give votes to them and, maybe, will not even look at them. In this field, interests of Armenia and opposition coincide. Azerbaijan is a powerful state and carries out its policy. Azerbaijan supports Heydar Aliyev’s policy, and will be supporting it and I will be continuing this policy together with our people.

We want peaceful resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. The negotiations are being held in this direction. It is true; we have not reached any results yet. Unfortunately, the OSCE Minsk group, which took the functions of a mediator in this conflict, shows insufficient activity, which does not suit us. Despite of the fact, we show good will, and do not refuse negotiations completely.

We are sure that international community will make Armenia to liberate the occupied lands. At the same time, Azerbaijan will increase its work in all international organizations. Besides, there are four resolution of the UN Security Council. Recently, the Council of Europe has shown a correct and fair point of view on this issue. Of course, first of all, it was done as a result of activities of Azerbaijan’s delegation to CE. We are happy that deputies of the Council of Europe acknowledged Armenia as an aggressor state in its documents.

We consider that all these facts will render positive influence on the future negotiation process. I am sure that we will be able to resolve the problem peacefully. However, I have said and will say your patience has its limits. If we see that all these talks are being held formally and do not have any results, in this case people of Azerbaijan have a right to liberate their lands by all means.

Economic development taking place in Azerbaijan and will be taking place in the country will give us a chance to strengthen economically and pay attention to strengthening of our army. This issue is paid a special attention. Powerful army has been established in Azerbaijan. We are aimed at using economic potential of Azerbaijan and strengthening of the army by this means. We are doing a lot in this direction. Nevertheless, all these activities are the results of economic policy having been carried out by Heydar Aliyev for recent ten years and it gives an opportunity to solve social problems and raise people’s living standards. This process is going on and the recent Presidential decrees are related to the fields of health, education, culture, salary and pensions developing at the expense of Oil Fund.

Gas and power supply is good in all regions of Azerbaijan and in Barda among them. It is true we cannot provide the whole population of regions with gas. However, gas supply to a major part of the population has been restored. I would like you to know that Azerbaijan purchases gas from Russia and spends $200 million every year for this aim to supply gas to all regions of the country. This fact shows that resolution of social problems is paid a special attention in Azerbaijan.

I am happy to tell you that according to received information, a lot of work is being done in Barda in the field of accomplishment, new roads are laid, and new schools have been constructed. Care about people is growing. It is a good tendency and I eagerly want that this care and attention were growing day by day. People of Azerbaijan deserve it. People of Azerbaijan are heroic. People of Azerbaijan and Barda people among them, have always supported policy of Heydar Aliyev and I am sure that will be supporting in the future.

Today an Olympic complex is being opened in the ancient Barda, in the sacred land of Karabakh. As President of the National Olympic Committee, I am very happy. I believe that children and youth training here will strengthen their health. Side by side with all these works done, I would like to tell you that we are going to construct a swimming pool. The National Olympic Committee will do it. When we started construction of the complex, a swimming pool was not foreseen by the design.

Of course, life is not standing idle, it is developing and when constructing such complexes in other regions, we will include swimming pools into projects. That is why I was telling you when I came here; we will construct a swimming pool in Barda for sure.

According to my sources of information, new schools have been recently constructed in villages. It is good. On my behalf I would like to tell you, a new school for 800 pupils equipped with up-to-date techniques is to be constructed here. This is our present to you.

I pointed out that Barda people have always showed respect to Heydar Aliyev. Their attitude towards him is good. They have been supporting his policy all the time, in 1970-1980 and for recent years. Unfortunately, Heydar Aliyev cannot take part in the elections because of his health conditions. I am taking part in these elections. I am sure that Barda people will vote for policy of Heydar Aliyev like always.

Dear people of Barda,

Dear sisters and brothers,

I would like to thank you once more for your warm attitude and welcome. I promise to be with you all the time, be dealing with your problems. We all together will be strengthening Azerbaijan and its statehood economically and politically.

People of Azerbaijan are faithful to policy of Heydar Aliyev. This policy will live. Azerbaijan will live. Heydar Aliyev will always be with us. Thank you.