Dear brothers and sisters!

Let me express my cordial greetings, respect and love to all of you. I am very glad to be here in Balaken with you to attend this great ceremony. The hospital in Balaken will be the largest one built over the last years. Today I’ve been informed the hospital will be finished and put into operation in two years. It’s an important factor; the one reflecting today’s reality of our Azerbaijan. Construction-improvement works are now underway in every part of Azerbaijan. Indeed, this program promotes opening new workplaces, and solving social problems in regions as a whole. This is exactly the path our country should follow. It’s because along with strong economy, there should be a great attention and care about people too. All the problems existing in the region will be solved with increasing our economic potential. New jobs must be created and measures underway to so. I know this is one of the Balaken province’s main problems – we should have entrepreneurship developed, and new infrastructure and jobs created here. Resolving all of these problems, of course, depends on economic potential. These are the goals of the economic reforms started in Azerbaijan in the mid 1990s. Ever since, the country’s economy has been substantially developed, and large-scale infrastructure projects have been implemented. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which bears the name of Heydar Aliyev, and defines future economic power of our country, will be put into operation this year. The work done in all of other fields – liberalization of economy and development of private sector – ranked Azerbaijan among the world’s leaders in economic growth rate. Today, Azerbaijan is the world’s leader in the economic growth rate. Our goal, our intention is that this great indicator, economic growth, be reflected in everyday life of every single citizen of Azerbaijan. Social infrastructure must be renewed; hospitals, schools and other social objects should meet international standards.

The hospital we have laid a foundation stone of today will also meet international standards, and I can say, it will be the largest and the best-equipped hospital among those built in Azerbaijan over the last years.

All-round development of Azerbaijan depends of the developments of regions. That’s why we are trying to have new infrastructure created in the regions. This beautiful hospital, and factories and plants to be built here will serve development of the region. Our country will get stronger with development of all of its regions. Azerbaijan’s greatest wealth – meaning natural wealth – is oil and gas. These resources serve the people of Azerbaijan. However, long-term development of the country also depends on development of non-oil sector. That’s why so great attention is paid to development of non-oil sector, private sector – for our economy to be multi-sided, and promote elimination of unemployment.

We are also trying to help development of agriculture. You are aware that farmers are lent loans, and that some $100 mln was set aside in the budget for these purposes. At the same time, the government purchases and leases agricultural equipment to villagers. It will allow agriculture to develop more rapidly as 50% of the country’s population lives in villages.

Balaken is very beautiful region, one of the most beautiful regions of Azerbaijan. So, development of tourist industry here is also very important. Of course, the development of tourist industry requires creation of a new infrastructure. To this end, there are plans to construct new roads here and new airport in Zagatala. In Sheki, meanwhile, construction of a new power station has already started. All this will promote development of the whole region. It is quite possible to build a wonderful tourism complex here, and I hope Azeri businessmen will focus on this idea. So, this region will rapidly develop, its people will live better, and thereby, Azerbaijan will get stronger.

A lot of different nationals live in Balaken. Azerbaijan’s strength is just that we are a multi ethnic country. Different nationals live in Azerbaijan as a single family. It has never been, it is not now and will never be a problem in Azerbaijan. It’s because regardless of ethnic belonging, every person, every citizen is dear to us, and enjoy equal rights. From this standpoint, Azerbaijan may serve as an example for other countries. Today, we witness the manifestation of ethnic and religious intolerance, and disintegration processes taking placer in some countries. Such developments can be observed even in the world’s most developed countries, it this concerns us much because it’s very dangerous signs. Whereas, the dialogue among civilizations is in the global agenda, in reality we can absolutely different picture. The situation in Azerbaijanis is also different. All of the peoples living here enjoy equal rights, and are shown equal attitude. This is our policy, this is the policy of the great leader Heydar Aliyev, and this policy is being continued today in all spheres. The fact that all peoples and ethnic groups live as a single family in Azerbaijan is just what the all-round development of Azerbaijan, and our power is based on and this will always be like that.

I would say that every place in Azerbaijan, every part of the country is very dear to me, is my Motherland. I long every part of Azerbaijan to be developed. This is the goal of the program of socio-economic development of regions. As you know the program has been implemented over two years, and the progress is evident: hundreds of thousands of new jobs and intensification of improvement works in regions. Much work will be done in Balaken too. I’ve given some relevant instructions, and there will be a decision on extra measures, as well.

You know that while touring the regions I familiarize myself with situation there, and try to find out and analyze what kind of problems each region faces, and what are existing shortcomings. After that, all the existing problems and shortcomings are investigated, and relevant measures are prepared and undertaken. This time it will be likewise also. The problems the people face will be analyzed and resolved.

Dear sisters and brothers, I hope through the years to come, Balaken will be rapidly developed, new objects of social infrastructure will be built and put into operation, and new workplaces will be created here. Balaken and its residents, as always, will take active part in strengthening state independence of Azerbaijan.

Let me now cordially greet you again I wish you good health and happiness.

Thank you.