Dear visitors!

Dear friends!

Intimately I welcome you and from the bottom of my heart I congratulate all of you on the occasion of opening today this settlement. I want to express gratitude to the government of Japan, the Asian Bank of Development, the International Humanitarian Organization “World Vision”, to other structures and the persons who were taking part in construction of settlement.

The ambassador of Japan esteemed Mr. Toshiyuki Fujiwara in his statement has noted, that the relations between Japan and Azerbaijan very successfully develop. Taking a case, I want to express once again to the government of Japan gratitude for the free aid, the allocated credits.

The government of Japan rendered Azerbaijan free aid for the sum of 50 million dollars. At the same time, Japan is the country giving to Azerbaijan the greatest volume of credits. On various projects carried out in Azerbaijan it is allocated more than $300 million. All other organizations, the international humanitarian organizations also assist refugees, the refugees living in Azerbaijan in the hardest conditions.

At the international conference carried out recently in Baku, devoted to the said question, I have asked the international humanitarian organizations to continue rendering assistance, to not reduce its volume as while our citizens living in heavy conditions, require it. While it is necessary.

At the same time, as you know, for last years due to the policy pursued in the country, a large work in this area is being done, in connection with the decision of social questions. You know, that under the instruction of the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev, means from the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan have been directed only on improvement of living conditions of the refugees and IDPs.

You know, that after regaining independence Azerbaijan appeared in the heaviest position. It is possible to tell, that in comparison with other former Soviet republics Azerbaijan was in the heaviest situation. On the one hand - an economic crisis, with another, - aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, processes proceeding in the country, internal opposition, civil war have put Azerbaijan in extremely difficult position. Economy, it is possible to tell, has been completely disorganized. It is natural, when the economy is in such position it is impossible to carry out social programs. Only after carrying out by Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijan of economic reforms there was an economic revival of our country. All economic parameters testify that our country occupies one of leading places in the region and on all space of the CIS. Further, our economic development becomes even more powerful.

Due to realization of oil strategy of Heydar Aliyev, much has been done in Azerbaijan. Today in the morning, in Yevlakh I have familiarized with construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan MEP, have seen huge pump station built there. I was once again convinced that Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy lives, is successfully carried out and all problems find their solution.

Imagine, if in 1994 under Heydar Aliyev’s initiative the “Contract of the Century” should not be concluded, the large foreign investments estimated in billions of dollars were not existed, should not be delivered it on the world markets, that, certainly, opportunities in Azerbaijan would be the extremely limited. The government, the state would be deprived of opportunities to build new settlements for refugees and immigrants, to raise the level of wages and pensions. Only due to the said policy, we have achieved all these successes.

As you know, about six - seven months ago, I took part in opening in the Bilasuvar district where was built a settlement for refugees and IDPs, and as today it has been marked, I have declared it there and in other statements - on the eve and after elections, - that in Azerbaijan there will be no tent camps, our compatriots living in the hardest situation, will be provided with fine conditions. It was not a simple slogan, which has sounded before elections. It is my unequivocal position, my policy. I do not doubt at all that we shall achieve it.

According to the Executive Order signed by me after the elections, in February of this year, the tent camps in Barda district and other areas will be liquidated, and instead of them in the territory of Agdam liberated from occupation, a new, large, fine settlement will be constructed. This policy will be continued. Our strategic course consists in that the refugees least protected from the social point of view, the IDPs have been surrounded with constant attention, care.

We have more and more opportunities, the economy of Azerbaijan becomes stronger and, thus, further realization of such projects will acquire speed, the aid rendered by other governments, the help to refugees, IDPs will continue, and the volume of this help be increased.

Here, it has already been marked, that the heaviest problem of Azerbaijan still is the Armenia -Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan could take a worthy place in the international community, has established bilateral mutually beneficial relations with the next states and Azerbaijan has received prompt economic development. I can tell to you, that Azerbaijan, probably, is one of the unique countries of the world as within 7 years the economy in our country on the average raises annually for 10 percent, the problem of unemployment finds its solution. The priority question marked by me - the policy of liquidation of unemployment in Azerbaijan brings the results. For 7 months after elections there was opened 30 thousand workplaces. And this process proceeds. Our oil strategy is successfully carried out. The BTC oil pipeline is under construction and in the beginning of the next year it will be entered into operation. The gas main of Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum will be constructed, thus, oil and gas of Azerbaijan will be delivered on the world markets, therefore, and in the country the large financial assets estimated in billions of dollars begin to act. It, naturally, will allow us to solve all forthcoming questions. That is, besides the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh problem I do not see any serious problem Azerbaijan is not able to solve.

As you know, negotiations on the decision of the said problem go already for a long time. While they remain ineffectual. To tell the truth, the mode of cease-fire has allowed us to achieve strengthening of our economy, development of Azerbaijan. Look, in what economic situation Armenia is, the side considering that ostensibly have received advantage in this conflict, and what economy of Azerbaijan. Certainly, the precipice between us is great, and this precipice will gradually go deep, extend. Armenia never will manage to compete to Azerbaijan in development of economy and other spheres. The achieved cease-fire has brought to Azerbaijan the great advantage. At the same time, the question for the present does not find its solution.

During last months my foreign visits – both the visits to the states, and to the international organizations is constantly was in the center of attention. It is very pleasant, that the leading countries of the world, their heads already unequivocally support Azerbaijan in the mentioned question. More precisely, they support the truth, justice. This question can find its solution only and only on the basis of international legal norms. It means, that territorial integrity of Azerbaijan should be and will be restored. I hope that with the activity of the international organizations we will manage to solve the problem.

At the same time, I want to state once again, that Azerbaijan will never be restrained with loss of the grounds, will not go in this question on any concessions. The given question will find its solution only within the framework of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We want to solve it in peace way. Still the negotiations proceed. I can tell, that opportunities are not exhausted yet. But at the same time, we at any moment should be ready to solve by all means this question for the benefit of Azerbaijan in any other ways. I believe in it.

Positions of Azerbaijan become stronger. The authority of Azerbaijan all over the world rises. Azerbaijan turns to a powerful state. Already the world knows that Armenia is an aggressor, an aggressive state. In XXI century, to live with such brand does not make honor to the country. I can tell to you, that during visits to the various countries, visits to the Council of Europe, the European Union, the NATO, that is to the leading organizations of the world, I was convinced that the position of Azerbaijan is appreciated more and more, the fair position of Azerbaijan gets increasing support.

I believe, that we can solve this question. Our grounds will be released, and you, my dear brothers, sisters, will return to the native lands. You know, that the said question is priority in my activity, I, possible to tell, daily prosecute these subjects and discuss various problems. I hope, that we shall achieve it.

Today, this nice settlement is given to you. I hope, that you will live here happily. At the same time, all of us should know, that it is a temporary settlement. It is a bright example of our policy. Improvement of the living standards of refugees, IDPs is one of priority directions of my policy. Today, this question finds here the embodiment. That is, your conditions are improved. But it does not mean, that you will live here always. No, you will be settled here temporarily. After clearing our grounds, I once again shall come to you on a visit, and we together shall go to Karabakh.

I once again intimately welcome you and I express deepest respect and love. I wish, that you lived here happily, served the native Azerbaijan. All of us - each citizen of Azerbaijan - should try to be of use for the country, with our activity, work to bring contribution to our common cause. I do not doubt, that so it and will be.

Thanks, all the best!