POLITICS
PRIME MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV GAVE AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO THE RUSSIAN ‘VESTI’ TV NEWS PROGRAM
The President’s son Ilham Aliyev gave an exclusive interview to the Russian TV Company, in which he stated that Heydar Aliyev was previously treated in this clinic several times and he personally had not any reasons not to trust American doctors.
The following is the text of interview given to the Russian TV:
- President Heydar Aliyev feels well and is normal. I have spoken several hours before with the persons, accompanying President of our country. Everything is all right; he feels quite normal. Today, official statement of the Cleveland Clinic on health condition of the President was released as well, where was stressed that along with certain problems, there is a very good positive dynamics and we hope that in the coming days Mr. President will recover completely and return to Motherland.
Asked on the situation in Azerbaijan on the eve of elections, in which he will also participate, Ilham Aliyev said:
- Our opposition, unfortunately, could not achieve significant progress in the decade-long period either in its outlook or in search of the new forms of conduction of political struggle, in their efforts to gain at least a little bit serious support among the population. Currently, my appointment to the post of Prime Minister aroused great anxiety and shock among the opposition. They expected that in connection with the illness of President Aliyev, - as they thought or were trying to present, - some tensions, disagreements will start in the government. But, as usual, they were wrong. Support, rendered to me unanimously by the Parliament, total support of the members of the Government showed once more that a united command of Heydar Aliyev exists in Azerbaijan, capable to implement his policy.
Head of the Government of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also stated that at present Azerbaijan remains attractive for foreign investors, which already gives positive results in the economy of Azerbaijan.
- In the forthcoming three years, USD9 billion will be invested to the oil sector of Azerbaijan. If to take into account those USD5-6 billion, which have already been invested, we will see that Azerbaijan is in the first ranks on size of the direct foreign investments per capita.
Speaking of the Russian-Azerbaijani relations, Ilham Aliyev noted:
- We are now very satisfied with the level of bilateral relations between our countries. Unfortunately, in the past, good interaction was not always achieved, however, I must tell you that with coming of Vladimir Putin to the post of President our bilateral relations gained new impulse, particularly, after his official visit to Azerbaijan and negotiations conducted here, as well as state visit of our President to Russia. We have agreed on very wide range of issues and have already commenced to receive practical results.