Dear guests!

First of all, I want to express my gratitude to you; the Holly Ramadan has always lived in people’s hearts, but after Azerbaijan gained its independence this holyday has been officially celebrating in the country. Our independence is a great achievement: Azerbaijan is independently developing in all spheres. National and traditional principles and values of our people have always been and will further be kept up and preserved in Azerbaijan. Participation of representatives of different religious confessions here today is a vivid confirmation of religious tolerance in Azerbaijan. It has always been like that. Ethnic and religious tolerance is a characteristic peculiarity of the Azerbaijan people. Tensity in this sphere was observed for short period in the history of Azerbaijan. But, after Heydar Aliyev returned to power at the request of the Azerbaijan people, the past errors have been eliminated.

His highness, sheikh is the Mr. President’s friend of forty years, and may be establishment of the friendly relationship between state and religion has become possible exactly thanks to this friendship. And we must continue our activity in this direction. I would repeatedly state that I would continue Heydar Aliyev’s policy, including this sphere as well. It gives me great pleasure that before the elections, religious figures headed by his highness had taken very active part in this process and unambiguously supported me.

On one hand, it demonstrates that like the whole people of Azerbaijan, the religious figures also want the policy of peace and socio-political stability to be continued. On the other hand, all of us, all members of the society, sound forces also want continuation of Heydar Aliyev policy. So, I express my deep gratitude to his highness and all religious figures for that. I know that they supported me during pre-election period and I am confident they support me today, as well. In my turn, I will take every effort for the existing good relationship between the state and religion to be continued.

Azerbaijan is a successfully developing country, and has good prospects. Azerbaijan will achieve progress in many fields. Our goal is peace, stability and welfare for Azerbaijan. To achieve this we have to consolidate social and political situation established for the last years. Stability must be kept in Azerbaijan. The post election events have shown as well that if radical forces had come to power in this election, Azerbaijan would be faced with great troubles again. The people of Azerbaijan, however, expressed their will and voted on October 15 for Heydar Aliyev’s policy. During my pre-election campaign, ceremony of inauguration, and afterwards, I repeatedly expressed my stance: I will be a President of each Azerbaijani citizen, will help each Azerbaijani citizen and there will never be ethnic or religious discrimination in Azerbaijan. And the citizens of Azerbaijan irrespectively of their religious or ethnic belongings have equal rights, and this policy will be further continued.

You can be confident that I, as Ilham Aliyev, as Heydar Aliyev’s son will continue my activity and be worthy of my father.