Prime-Minister Ilham Aliyev received Minister of Labor and Social Policy of Ukraine Mikhail Pipiyev at the Cabinet of Ministers, September 16.

Having cordially welcomed the guest, Prime-Minister Ilham Aliyev said: “Very warm and very friendly relations exist between our countries in political, economical and cultural sphere, our Presidents have good personal relations. Reiterated reciprocal visits by the two heads of state showed how closer our countries have become for the years of independence. Today, these relations have reached a brand new level. We have good co-operation in the framework of such regional organization as GUUAM; a plenty of Ukrainian companies are involved in projects implementing in our country, deliver their products. We are concerned with it. I am aware of good contacts established between the two Ministries, experience exchange; a huge work has been done in Azerbaijan n this sphere. It has a special significance in Azerbaijan where there are many people suffered from Armenian aggression, and the government is doing its best to improve their lives by building apartment houses, rehabilitation centers etc. with particular attention paid to those injured in the battles.

I heard Ukraine has positive experience in this direction, so, mutual contacts and experience exchange would be very useful for our countries.”

Thanking Prime-Minister Ilham Aliyev for the warm reception, Minister of Labor and Social policy of Ukraine Mikhail Papiyev said:

“First of all I would like to convey the most warm wishes from Prime-Minister of Ukraine Viktor Fedorovich Yermakovich. ”

Big construction is being held here, people are improving their living conditions. Their life becomes better. Enterprises are working. I was informed on your economic indexes. This is magnificent -10 percent rise of production volumes. For 10 years you have increased the volume of production twice.

It became possible because the President of your country, Heydar Aliyevich Aliyev carries out a clear line directed to permanent improvement the living standard of the population. I consider that it is right. Me myself, as Minister of Labor and Social Policy would like to say when President of Ukraine Leonid Danilovich Kuchma signed a decree on my appointment, he said simple words that I would remember forever.

He said, that the activity of the government will be appraised according to work of your ministry, i.e. it depends on the ministry which carried out the work on number of issues: demographical processes, birth and issues of employment, professional education, etc. Further, when a man finishes his working activities, our ministry is dealing with his social security.

In other words, the whole live of a man is under care of our ministry. Moreover, yesterday we visited the Rehabilitation Center, where World War II and Karabakh War disabled undergo medical treatment. Besides, we visited orthopedic factory. It is a unique enterprise; I was informed on numbers, you have supplied people by 100 percent with orthopedic items.

It means that people with corporal defects, have an opportunity to get free medical care and to work. I think that the most valuable right is a right to work and you provide your citizens with this right. Further, I acquainted with the program and I think to introduce it in Ukraine - apartments for disabled. These apartments are constructed by the government and then distributed free of charge. It is seen that developing economically, Azerbaijan remembers about the main think that is why people believe in themselves, in the government. People’s trust is the main think for the government.

In fact, this is government’s obligation.

I know that a very important event is taking place in your country on October 15 - democratic elections of the President of the country. I will tell you frankly, I am confident about you. You have done and doing a lot, so I do not see people able to oppose you.

Ilham Aliyev: We do not see either.

Michael Papiyev: I would like, first, to wish a good health to our dear Heydar Aliyevich. Let your ideas beput into life. In addition, the main think, while doing all these, remember that you have support and fraternal assistance in the person of Ukraine and Ukrainian people.

Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. I would like to express gratitude for your warm words and please convey my best wishes to President of Ukraine, dear Leonid Danilovich Kuchma and Prime Minister. You have mentioned that governmental care about needy and economic development in conditions of market economy go side by side in Azerbaijan. For recent 10 year, big positive changes have taken place in this field. The fact that GDP grew by 10 percent and it is preserved for about 6-7 years, the level of inflation - round 2 percent gives an opportunity to raise salary periodically.

The last salary raise embraced a big group of people - medical field, teachers, art figures, pensioners and many others. Economy is developing, the country is strengthening, budget and currency funds are growing. They have reached 1 billion 400 million dollars, and 10 years ago we did not have any. All these achievement is the result of balanced policy of our President Heydar Aliyev in economic field.

Economic growth, of course, depends on private sector. Land has been privatized and given to farmers, wide-range privatization is held in all branches of economy. The weight of private sector in controlling packages is more than that of the government’s. The task of the government is in creation of good conditions for entrepreneurship, economic growth, using its resources to help.

You pointed out and I would like to underline that a huge work is being carried out by the line of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, in concern of security of needy. I am sure that this process will be further continuing. Everything we have created today is real work done.

The situation is the same when we solve very important and serious problems of refugees. Because of Armenian aggression and occupation of 20 percent of our territories, about one million of our citizens have become refugees and internally displaced people. Major pat of them lives in difficult conditions. That is why as soon as we started to receive real incomes from development of oil sector, we created an Oil Fund.

The very first revenues of the Fund were directed to needs of refugees. In total 70 million dollars were allocated to refugees at the Presidential Decree. New settlements, towns have been constructed for these funds. Refugee camps are being quitted; refugees have been given plot of lands, necessary infrastructure. Those who have already moved to new houses live in good conditions, in modern houses.

The main element of policy of our President Heydar Aliyev in the field of economic development is a combination of market relations with permanent care about people. Sometimes, there are cases when these two directions exclude each other. There are countries where people do not see enough of care: just go and try to survive. In this concern, combination of these two directions is very much important, I believe. We have good prospects of economic growth in Azerbaijan, after implementation of oil and communications projects, we are expecting huge currency revenues. It will be taking place within upcoming 2-3 years. Of course, taking into account the fact that our policy is, first of all, care about people, you can imagine how living standard will raise in 2-3 years for revenues from oil projects. Thank you for what you said. We live here, get used and do not see big changes and think that everything must be like this. When a newcomer, moreover, high official mentions about it - it is pleasant. That is why we are sure that policy of the President will be continued. There is no alternative to this policy in concern of independence of the state and in concern of the fact that Azerbaijan has taken its proper place in the world and a leading position in the region. We observe positive movement ahead in all directions.

Thank you again for warm words and I think that our countries and governments will be working together in the name of our nations.

Further, Boris Aleksenko, Ukrainian Ambassador in Baku shared his views on Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations. In particular, he said:

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I am grateful, that you have found time to receive the delegation of Ukraine led by the Minister. I thank you Minister Ali Nagiyev for his invitation extended to our Minister, I have opened many things for these two days.

Though I know Azerbaijan, I would like to confirm that as a result of foreign and domestic policy carried out by a world known outstanding statesman and politician of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyevich Aliyev, thanks to reforms in Azerbaijan, strategic line in oil sphere, favorable conditions for foreign investments have been created in the country.

Much work is being done in social sphere basing on economy. Everything that I have seen for two days was new for me. Your personal contribution into creation of social conditions cannot be underestimated. Besides, you have done a lot for development of oil sector, sport and democracy.

I think that Ali Nagiyev’s reciprocal visit to Ukraine will open new fields for cooperation. This visit will be the continuation of the policy directed to deepening and expansion of our relations in all fields.

Please convey our best wishes to the President. We wish you peace and prosperity. Succession in policy gives good results. We are happy with your success.

Ilham Aliyev: Thank you, Boris Grigoryevich for warm words, I am happy that there exists such level of mutual understanding and cooperation between the two ministries, I am grateful to the Minister. We should help each other, cooperate and share experience. I greet everything that we have achieved. I am sure that Ali Nagiyev’s visit to Ukraine will be as successful as yours to Azerbaijan.

Further, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan Ali Nagiyev made a speech:

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I would like to express gratitude, that you found time to receive us on such tense period on the eve of the elections. You are involved into solution of important political, economic and social tasks. Majority of foreign states and international organizations are observing the forthcoming elections in our country. Guests coming to Azerbaijan point out that the country is ready to hold democratic elections, meeting international standards.

In conclusion, Minister of Labor and Social Policy of Ukraine, Michael Papiyev said:

Dear Ilham Heydarovich,

Thank you for the meeting. The words of gratitude to our Presidents sounded today were very sincere. Peoples of our countries will live in friendship and our states will guarantee social level of needy people.

Papiyev presented Ilham Aliyev with a statuette of rider and took a photo.