SPEECH OF PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV
Congratulating participants of the meeting on the occasion of the Day of Youth, the President said the Day has been marked in Azerbaijan through a decade. For these ten years, the Azerbaijan youth has proved, that they are worthy citizens of the country, the President noted. President Aliyev, in particular, said: “As you know, the Day of Youth has been founded on the initiative of great leader Heydar Aliyev. He always paid to these questions great attention. In 1970s, he has done huge work for education of young generation in Azerbaijan. You, probably, know, that those years the Azerbaijan youth went for study in leading high schools of the Soviet Union. Today, these people adequately serve independent Azerbaijan.
Education of young generation is the major question for any country, as the future destiny of the country will depend on present youth. Generations vary, the countries develop. But the traditions, national values live, and each citizen, each person should bring his contribution to all-round successful development of the country, increase of well-being of Azerbaijani people”.
The Head of State further noted: “The present youth is formed during independent yeras. It is great happiness. Sometimes, the present youth also cannot think that in the country in which we lived once, there were certain restrictions, there was no freedom. There were no such opportunities to everyone how freely to express his views, differently to think and look at the world. We are happy as today we live in an independent country. The people of Azerbaijan have gained independence. Simultaneously, there are all attributes peculiar to the independent, open state, in Azerbaijan. The youth is only required to study, possess deep knowledge, to be competent, devoted to the Motherland and the activity to serve today and tomorrow to development of our country”.
Touching upon the role of youth in the socio-political life of country, the President said: “The role of youth in the further development of Azerbaijan is great, as you know, majority of the population of the country - the youth is working in all branches. I reiterate: the major requirement consists in that the youth studied well. We try to create necessary conditions for this purpose. We have raised scholarships and are going to solve other questions. On completion of education, the youth, certainly, should use effectively opportunities available in Azerbaijan in the field of economy and other spheres. Today, such opportunities are available, and I very much would like, that the youth actively worked in all branches, became active member of society. It is necessary for our country, its future. I consider, that today economic and political conditions in Azerbaijan create all these opportunities”.
“The youth is actively involved in all spheres, I am very glad that they are very active in sports as well. Young people boost the sport glory of Azerbaijan. It is necessary for increasing patriotic sentiment, image of the country and people’s health. Therefore, construction of new sport complexes in Azerbaijan has become widespread,” said the Head of State.
The President said Azerbaijan does everything possible for the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. According to Azerbaijani Leader, Armenia’s destructive position does not allow settle this problem.
“Armenia violated all international norms and does not observe international rules of conduct, thinking that this status quo will last for ever. It is not so, there is a limit and frame. Growing economic, political and military power of Azerbaijan and international community’s supporting the attitude of Azerbaijan towards this issue strengthen our position,” said the President.
“I want the occupied territories be liberated peacefully. At the same time, we must be ready for any situation. To this end, the strong army building process today allowed us to change the correlation of forces in the region in our favor. Now, our advantage is not measured by political and economic criteria alone. Our strength is seen in the military. The strong army means that we can liberate our lands any time,” said Mr. Ilham Aliyev.
The President said that the role of youth is great in the Azebaijan society. Young people struggled and regained the independence of Azebaijan.
“Today we can say with the sense of pride, Azerbaijan is fully independent. It is independent because it pursues an independent policy, because it does not depend on anyone, because, the destiny of the people is decided in Azerbaijan,” the President said.
President said, “We are initiators and implementors of great projects determining the future of Azerbaijan and situation in the region. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum oil and gas pipelines are the historical achievement of Azerbaijan. If there was no will of the government and the people of Azerbaijan, none of them was implemented.”
On the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, President Ilham Aliyev added, “It bypasses the territory of Armenia. Baku-Tbilisi-Kars projects runs up against opposition. In spite of this, Azerbaijan has enough capabilities. I want to say once against, we effectively cooperate with our neighbors in the region and will implement this project as well”.
Speaking of economic projects for youth, the President said: “The state, on its part, has to do all to improve welfare of the youth, create necessary opportunities for them. We do that through socio-economic projects and further will do. Our economic reforms successfully go ahead. In the past independent years, the country’s economy has reached the level of 1990, and none of the former soviet republics could succeed this. Even Russia is to reach this level only this year, or, probably next year.
This is a historical process. On one hand, the people of Azerbaijan are happy that has gained its sovereignty. On the other hand, what ordeals we have faced in these years!? We should reduce and completely abolish poverty in the country. The people of Azerbaijan should live happily and we shall guarantee that. For this, the whole society should be active, especially the youth”.
The President called on the youth to be more active, to the good deeds to serve the Motherland, the country and the nation.
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