SPEECH OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AT SUPREME MAJLIS OF NAKHCHIVAN AR
Today is the second day of my staying in Nakhchivan. This is my first visit to Nakhchivan after being elected as President, and what I have seen today gives me a great pleasure. Great constructive work in being carried out in Nakhchivan.
Nakhchivan is the land, which is living under very hard conditions. The indivisible part of Azerbaijan is under blockade. Nakhchivan has no communication with the greater part of Azerbaijan but airway. Considering the situation, under the instruction of our esteemed president, people’s nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev, the international airport has been built and put into operation here in Nakhchivan.
The basis for the work done in Nakhchivan within the past years was laid in early 90s. That was the time when Heydar Aliyev came to Nakhchivan. The people of the Republic elected him as their leader, and intensive activity began here. Today, Nakhchivan is experiencing the period of his revival.
Social and economic showings are very high in Nakhchivan. The Republic’s GDP is growing from year to year, industrial potential and local production are also increasing, important social problems are being solved.
Azerbaijan as a whole is now the rapidly developing country, which are realizing world-scale economic projects, and whose international prestige has considerably increased. In other words, Azerbaijan has strengthened its positions in the region.
A special decree has been issued recently to intensify social and economic development in Azerbaijan, At the same time, the state program on development of Azerbaijan’s provinces has been adopted. However, opening of several works here during these two days shows that the program has been launched in the Autonomous republic much earlier.
One of the main problems of Nakhchivan is electricity supply. In this connection, we are going to realize new projects to fully satisfy the Republic’s needs in electric power. Gas supply is also on the agenda. If Nakhchivan and the rest of Azerbaijan had communicated, there would not be a problem to supply gas to the Republic. So, we are searching for other ways to solve the problem. I hope we will achieve the goal.
Although our economy is built on market base, the greater part of our budget is spent on solving social problems. It indicates that solving these problems, in other words, showing concern about people, is a focus of attention. However, there are still a lot of people in Azerbaijan whose living conditions are very hard: refugees and displaced people. Measures for improvement the situation are in progress. You know that on the initiative of our nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev, $70 mln were allotted from the state Oil Fund for construction of modern houses, apartment buildings and settlements for them. And they have already been constructed in several regions, and this course will be continued.
However, this is not a resolution of the problem. It may be considered as solved when Armenian armed forces are withdrawn from our lands and the refugees and IDPs return to their native places. Huge efforts have been taken in this sphere, and I hope it will manage to reach fair peace treaty based on the international legal norms.
We support peaceful settlement of the conflict, but at the same time we must be ready to solve the problem at any moment resorting to other methods. Economic potential of Azerbaijan is increasing from year to year, and the country is getting stronger. I am sure the Azerbaijani lands will be released, and its territorial integrity restored.
Dear friends!
I know and you know how much Heydar Aliyev wanted to see the results of the projects he once initiated here, and to attend their openings. Unfortunately, it turned out to be impossible for him to see that.
I also know that sometimes people need consolation. He saw that his work was continued, that his creation - independent Azerbaijan - was living following his path. He saw his people supported his policy. The duty of ours is to continue Heydar Aliyev’s policy, and move the country ahead.
Accept again my greetings and best wishes for your new successes, new victories, good health and happiness.
Thank you,
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