On August 4, a newly appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was introduced to the members of the government.

Opening the function with the participation of state and government members, the head of President’s Executive Office, Ramiz Mehtiyev made an introductory speech. In particular, he said,

“Today you have become eyewitnesses of an extremely important public and political event. It is known that a Milli Majlis (Parliament) session has been held today. Milli Majlis, basing on presentation of President Heydar Aliyev, discussed the issue of approval of Ilham Aliyev’s appointment to the position of Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

I would like to point out that Milli Majlis session was very fruitful and all deputies expressed their thoughts about Ilham Aliyev. Everyone agreed that Mr. President Heydar Aliyev took a wise decision and recommended Ilham Aliyev to position of Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Public of our Republic, statesmen as well as people abroad know Ilham Aliyev very well; his personality, his merits, his attitude towards statehood. Ilham Aliyev is a personality with high intellect, and closely related to statehood. Ilham Aliyev has good merits in front of the nation. These merits are known by public of Azerbaijan, in foreign countries, he has been acknowledged as a modern politician.

Public of Azerbaijan highly appraised Ilham Aliyev’s activities both as First Vice President of the State Oil Company, President of the National Olympic Committee, Milli Majlis member for eight years, and on position of Vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly and Bureau member of the Council of Europe.

There were different views, rumors in the society for a definite period. The whole nation was concerned about President’s state of health. People were wondering, who will follow Mr. President’s activities shown during 34 years, Azerbaijan’s success and achievement. Who is the one to take the fate of Azerbaijan in his hands? Today, Mr. President has already signed his decrees. Today at 4 p.m., a plane from Ankara landed in Azerbaijan and we have got these decrees. We have already informed the society and public of the country about this fact. Now, I inform you about it.

I would like to say that public of the country received this news with enthusiasm. Today, President’s Office received telephone calls from statesmen and ordinary people expressing their happiness, gratitude to the President for his wise decision. We wish our President a good health. We wish him to complete his treatment, to return to the country, and to take part in the Presidential elections.

During the meetings, the nation has already expressed their attitude to President’s participation in the elections. We can say that Mr. President has been already elected as the head of the state. Only legal part remained. On October 15, we will hold Presidential Elections and there are no doubts that Heydar Aliyev will be elected as a President for another five-year term.

I received a call from Ankara related to the sent documents. I was informed that Mr. President was watching the Milli Majlis session on TV and highly appraised the course of the session. Mr. President expressed gratitude to those who expressed their views related Ilham Aliyev from the point of view of statehood. The session of the Milli Majlis confirmed once more that Mr. President took a right decision, he said.

That is why let me congratulate you all on this important event. First of all, I congratulate Ilham Aliyev, wish him a good health. We are sure that on his position, Ilham Aliyev will follow the road of Heydar Aliyev. I want to add that till now, Ilham Aliyev has managed all assignments of the President”.

Further, Ramiz Mehtiyev read the Decrees of the President.

The ceremony was followed by Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev’s speech

PRIME MINISTER ILHAM ALIYEV’S SPEECH

“Dear Mr. Mehtiyev,

Dear Mr. Rasizadeh,

Dear members of the government,

First of all, let me express gratitude to the President and Milli Majlis for confidence. I assure you I will try to justify and deserve this trust by my activities.

I highly appraise economic policy carried out by President Heydar Aliyev in the country. In addition, I consider the work of the Cabinet of Ministers, as an executive organ, to be fruitful and successful. I believe this is the only correct policy. This policy gives us a chance to strengthen Azerbaijan economically soon, to create powerful economic potential.

Work done only in oil sector is enough to speak about big projects implemented in Azerbaijan. These projects are very important not for us only, they are important for the region and for the whole world.

As a result of economic reforms in Azerbaijan, welfare of the population in rising day by day. President’s recent decree shows that care about people is the main aspect of President’s policy. Under difficult economic conditions, salaries of a major part of the population have been raised and, consequently, their living standard improved. Care about refugees, new towns and settlements are the evidence of the fact that economic policy in Azerbaijan is correct and all of us should follow this policy.

Especially, I would like to point out Arthur Rasizadeh’s activities. He is President’s supporter. The Cabinet of Minister ruled by him for a long period is an active organ today. Azerbaijan has achieved good results due to the activities of the Cabinet of Ministers. I am sure that now and on, we, all together will be following this policy.

I will not take much of your time. However, I would like to touch upon one more issue. Probably, some people from opposition will be speculating this issue. They will try again to cause opposition. I have said about it, I consider necessary to talk about it today. I state once more, there is a united team in Azerbaijan and this is Heydar Aliyev’s team. I am a member of this team; all of us are members of this team. I do not have a team of my own and would never have such.

That is why, I want everyone to know, the Cabinet of Ministers will go on its activities in the way it did before. The work done by the Cabinet of Minister gives good results and will show good results in the future. That is why; I just would like to state that we would be working in regular regime. No changes will occur here, economic policy remains unchanged.

I am sure that we all will put into life President’s economic policy. We will try to strengthen economy of Azerbaijan, to make our people’s life comfortable and prosperous. Thank you.”