Baku, November 16 (AZERTAC). A solemn ceremony has today been arranged at the Buta palace to mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the New Azerbaijan Party. 

Azerbaijani President, chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva attended the ceremony.

The President made a speech at the event.

The Head of State spoke of history of the New Azerbaijan Party, saying it was founded at a very difficult time, which marked complete recession in all spheres of life, particularly economic and political chaos. The President said Azerbaijan`s major setback in the early years of independence was unsuccessful war which broke out as a result of Armenia`s aggression against the country.

President Ilham Aliyev said: “These circumstances necessitated the emergence of a new political force in Azerbaijan.”

He noted national leader Heydar Aliyev held the New Azerbaijan Party`s founding conference in November, 1992.

“One of the primary goals of the Party was to restore political stability in Azerbaijan and lift the country out of deep moral crisis. The New Azerbaijan Party managed to win people`s respect and admiration in a short period of time.”

The Head of State said: “Salvation came only with the return of the Party`s founder, national leader Heydar Aliyev to power in 1993 at the request of the people.”

The President said economic, political and democratic reforms launched by national leader Heydar Aliyev were main factors that conditioned Azerbaijan`s development on the modern stage.

“One of the key priorities for the Party at that time was building a new national ideology. The national leader outlined main directions of this ideology, and said it is the philosophy of Azerbaijanism which is at the core of it.”

“And young Azerbaijan`s achievements in political, economic, humanitarian and other fields proved the rightness of this philosophy,” the President noted.

The Head of State said today Azerbaijan was among the most economically developed countries in the world, adding “we are one of the exemplary countries in terms of political stability on a global scale”.

The President also praised the role and efforts of members of the New Azerbaijan Party, which he described as “the biggest political force in the South Caucasus”. He said the Party`s members had always been committed to statehood, and had made outstanding contributions to the country`s achievements both in internal and foreign policy.

President Ilham Aliyev stressed the fact that more and more young people were joining the ranks of the Party, which, he said, today had a 600,000-strong membership.

“There is no alternative to us on Azerbaijan`s political scene,” he added.

The Head of State said the increasing number of Azerbaijan`s friends, its election as a member of the UN Security Council, the expansion of its investment opportunities abroad and Baku`s hosting high-profile international events testified to the country`s growing international prestige.

The President touched upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying the country`s position on the dispute remained unchanged.

“We have a strong backbone – our people, rapidly developing economy, perfect conception and programs.”

“And I`m sure that being the leading political force of the society, the New Azerbaijan Party will play bigger role in the country`s future development,” President Ilham Aliyev added.