Dear Khinalig residents,

I extend my cordial greetings and congratulations to you on the opening of the road. Khinalig is very ancient area, one of the most ancient villages in Azerbaijan. As far as I know, people have been living here for ages, for minimum of 4 thousand years. They have been living in these mountains under extremely severe conditions. Of course, there was a great need for a road here. When I was in Guba last year, I wondered was there a road to Khinalig, one of our most famous villages. I was told it was in a terrible plight. It took five or six hours to make it there. It was too uncomfortable. So, I ordered the Ministry of Transport to lay out a road to the village. It was a matter of a feat. Laying out a road to this village is an extremely important event proving that today’s Azerbaijan is capable to resolve any problem, because id we are able to build a road to Khinalig, then nothing can be an obstacle for us. It took only 4 months to build such a fine road. I have just driven the car on the road; it was very comfortable. This is only the first step of the work. One more layer of pavement will be overlaid on the road that will make it very smooth like a glass, and people will go by it without problems. At the same time, it will provide a constant connection with the regional center. Besides, tourists will come here; in general, there will be development. No development is possible where there are no roads. The greater part of a year you live in isolation. There has been no a chance to make it here for 8-9 months. Of course, there were great difficulties.

Laying out of the road is the first step. Other works will be performed further. I am going to order on solving other problems you have mentioned. Some problems can be solved by local authorities, others by central executive bodies. I will order on setting up a telephone communication here. The Ministry of Education will be charged with building of a new secondary school here. I will order the company Azersu to deal with water supply problem. I repeat: today Azerbaijan is developing so rapidly that its strengthening potential allows it to solve any problem. My major goal is that people in the most remote areas of the country be provided with modern living conditions. Azerbaijan is experiencing development, modernization and economic progress. It would be impossible to lay out this road without developed economy. Construction of this road came to 14 million new manats. It is big money. Where did we get that money? Our budget keeps growing, so there is money. If there is money, then there will be equipment. It is impossible to build a road without equipment no matter how much money you have. The equipment had been purchased, and the work done meets high, international standards of quality. I want all that is done in Azerbaijan to be of high standard. The people of Azerbaijan are worthy of this. For the time being, we are becoming the most advanced country in the region, or rather, has already become. We are leaders in economic growth. Social problems are being solved, and salaries and pensions are on the rise. Pensions have recently been increased, salaries of teachers, and earlier those of healthcare employees. Minimum salary will be increased from January 1. I mean everything is being one for the people to live better. On one hand, social welfare, on the other hand, infrastructure projects are underway. Now, road-building activities are widely spread across Azerbaijan. Roads to all backcountry villages have been built. Construction of highways is also underway, of course. It is also necessary to do that. Construction of highways connecting Azerbaijan with neighboring countries is also underway. For instance, a motorway Baku-Guba is now being built. On my way here, yesterday in the evening, I saw that the construction activities had already begun. It will run up to the Russia’s border, and it will be very comfortable to travel here from Baku. Today, travel from Guba to Khinalig is full of pleasure: picturesque panorama, beautiful mountains, rivers, spring and waterfalls. On my way here, I stopped and got out of the car several times to view this picture. It makes you feel happy. Today, I am feeling particularly happy, because the road built on my instructions, has made all the residents of Khinalig happy. The President is happy when his people are happy, when smiles appear on their faces, when there is development and something new. Today, we can see all this everywhere in Azerbaijan, including here, in the most ancient village located on one of the highest peaks of the Caucasus. You are located at a height of 2300 meters. There are maybe 2 or 3 villages located even higher. Over four thousands of their history, residents of Khinalig safeguarded their originalities, their language. Khinalig language is possibly one of the most ancient world languages. I know it. It shows how rich Azerbaijan is by its natural recourses, picturesque nature and variety of nationals, ethnic groups. We live in Azerbaijan as a single family. Where else can you see that? Nowadays, we can see different situation in other places; in a number of cases, we can witness artificially created discontent and confrontation among people, and facts of people’s discrimination. No all this exists in Azerbaijan. Every citizen of Azerbaijan is my brother. Every villager is dear to me. When being elected the President I told I would tray to become a President of every citizen of Azerbaijan, for every citizen of Azerbaijan to feel these changes in his/her daily life. I have held this post for three years. I do not want to dell on this, but a lot of work has been done over these years.

I am very happy to be with you on this wonderful day. Once again, I extend to you my cordial greetings, and I am sure this new road will mark the beginning of a new era for this village. The village will live forever, and the residents of Khinalig will live forever and contribute to development and flourishing of their native Azerbaijan.