Dear residents of Astara!

Dear friends, brothers and sisters!

Dear guests!

I am pleased to extend to you my cordial greetings and congratulations on the commissioning of the power plant. Five years ago we laid the plant’s foundation right here. There was just a waste ground here then, and while laying the foundation, we probably could not imagine this wonderful object would be commissioned here in a short period of time. But we set the goal to construct and put it into operation as a power plant here soon as possible to solve energy problems in Astara and the whole southern region. Today we have reached the goal. This is a great event, a great gift not only to Astara but to the whole southern region. Taking the opportunity I would like to express my gratitude to the foreign and local companies, their management and workers involved in the construction of the plant. It is also a wonderful example of an international cooperation. The construction involved foreign companies Wartsila and AВВ as well as Azerbaijani Azenco. They worked productively, and thanks to this work, today, we are marking the plant’s opening.

International cooperation in Azerbaijan as a whole, both in political and economic fields, is developing intensively. It again demonstrates that Azerbaijan is very successfully integrating into the global community. The projects being realized in Azerbaijan are grandiose, large-scale and very important to the country from the standpoint of energy security. Azerbaijan’s involvement in these projects enhances our country’s prestige.

As you know, the energy security problem has recently worsened, some countries has experienced energy crisis during the winter months. In Azerbaijan, we managed to avoid it. Despite our energy potential does not fully suits us, or does not meets all our demands, however, energy supply in the winter months has been generally insured.

The aim of new power plants’ construction is just to avoid energy problems in Azerbaijan neither in summer nor in winter. Energy supply must be ensured on a round the clock basis, always and everywhere, electricity must be provided to both companies and citizens.

Now, several power plans are under construction in Azerbaijan. Etibar Prverdiyer (Head of JSC Azeeenergy) has already noted that the similar plants are being constructed in Baku, Nakhchivan, Shaki and Khachmaz. But while making the decision we ordered to build the station in Astara first as energy problems in the southern region have raised our particular concern. In addition, this power plant will play a significant role in development of the southern region. If to keep in mind the successful implementation of the Program of development of provinces in Azerbaijan, one should take into account that all this requires new energy source. Thus, this plant will have a very positive impact on the entire region. The process of commissioning new enterprises will be intensified, and infrastructure of the region will become more solid.

As you know, I pay great attention to the southern region. Over the last two years, I have been here several times. Very important projects – for the region, for Azerbaijan- are being implemented here. Recently, a gas-compressor station has been put into operation in Astara. In Lankaran, construction of an international airport began, and a sea port in also under construction. Today, we are marking the commissioning of the power plant. It means all the work done in a short period, serves development of the region; in the future we will do see even better results of these deeds.

As for development of the region, energy carriers undoubtedly constitute the basis of the Program of regional development. This is the aim power plants construction began with in several other places. A large 500 MW capacity power plant is being constructed in Sumgait. The program of regional development is being implemented successfully. Over the last two years, some 340 thousand jobs have been opened in Azerbaijan, and this process in going on. I am certain that the unemployment problem will be completely eliminated very soon in Azerbaijan. The fight against poverty has been intensified; in 2005 the number of poor people drastically reduced. The work to be done in 2006 - raising wages and stipends – will of course reduce more the poverty rate. This is our objective. This is what all the work being done serves. Azerbaijan’s economic potential should be enhanced, people should live better, they should be provided with better quality services. We are building our work at a high level in all directions – both in energy sector, road infrastructure and healthcare.

As you know, when I came to the region in September, I held here a regional session. We once again analyzed the major problems in the region whereupon I signed a relevant order. The order is being implemented; in particular, funds have been allocated for construction of roads, which today are already being constructed. I ordered to build roads in regional centers and, in the first place in villages. For many years, no investments have been made in rural roads, and they have been in a sorry plight. We are closely engaged in restoration of rural roads; today this process is intensively going on in all part of the southern region. As you know, a new 50-km long road connecting Lankaran and Lerik has been laid. In other word, our work both in energy sector and in sphere of economics, humanitarian and social spheres is being carried out in the framework of the deliberate program, and as a result of the ongoing work poverty in Azerbaijan must be eliminated. It is a program, an objective, and I have no doubt that we will reach that. I long we achieve this even sooner, long we realize these plans in a shorter period of time.

As you know, this is what the construction of this plant is aimed at. We have energy program. Recently I signed a special program. Usually, construction of a power plant takes 2-3 years. We have no time, energy and powerful infrastructure is what we need today. So, we though about what measures should be taken to provide Azerbaijan with electricity in short period of time. Construction during a year of module-type power plants in five regions of Azerbaijan will allow generating over 400 MW of electricity. The today’s shortage makes up just 400 MW. It means in 2006 this shortage will be eliminated. But this doesn’t mean it will mark that our work is complete. New industrial enterprises, new factories, plants will be built in Azerbaijan; as population will increase in number the new enterprises and new houses will be built. All this requires energy. Azerbaijan is lucky to have natural resources. As you know, oil and gas production increases every year in Azerbaijan. In the last year, Azerbaijan produced the record-high 22 million tons of oil. In the coming years the production will do reach 50-60 millions. In other word, these natural resources allow us being independent in terms of energy security. The energy crisis some countries experienced during these winter months has demonstrated that it converts to an extremely complicated social - and sometimes even political - problem. But Azerbaijan is insured, it possesses natural resources. However, natural resources serve people only when they are developed, used, when oil is produced, oil and gas pipelines, and power plants are built. There is no doubt that our energy security will be insured at a very high level, and that Azerbaijan within the next years will convert to a country as an important source of energy for the region, and the European consumers. We need to use this skillfully. Geographical situation of Azerbaijan, its growing prestige in the region, as well as our natural resources will create for us wonderful possibilities, which will serve improvement of welfare of the Azerbaijani people, and strengthening of Azerbaijan’s positions in both region and the world.

I am feeling very happy today. You know, construction of this power plant for 4-5 months is a great achievement. Today, while talking with foreign specialist, the specialists who had been involved in construction of the plant, I learned that it was a record in their practice. The companies involved in the construction of this plant, had build such ones in various places. But they never managed to complete the construction in such a short period of time. Evidence of what ids this? It is the evidence that work in Azerbaijan is built on the right manner. It is the evidence that our words are matched with deeds. If we give a word, we must keep it.

I remember that in September I set the following task: the plant must be put into operation in winter as the light is needed more in winter. We have achieved this. I don’t doubt that we will always reach our goals in all businesses, in all initiatives, that Azerbaijan will do become more powerful, and that we will do serve worthily to improve the welfare of the Azerbaijani people.

Dear friend, once again I congratulate you on the opening of this plant. I am sure that from now on, we will always have electricity, our enterprises will be working, and the people’s life will be better and more comfortable.

Thank you!