Dear friends,

Dear residents of Gobustan,

Let me extend to all of you my cordial greetings and congratulations on the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Museum.

The Museum’s exhibits, photos depict the great leader’s life and activities in different periods - both in 1970-780s and in the years of independence. The national leader of the Azerbaijani people had always served his people with devotion and dignity, and made invaluable contributions to development of Azerbaijan. Irrespective of the political system the national leader worked under, he helped the country out of difficulties and brought to the path of development in both 1970-780s and 1993-2003s. Today, this policy is continued in all areas. The successful domestic and foreign policy being pursued and the radical reforms being implemented in Azerbaijan promote all-round development of the country and make it much stronger.

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers discussed the results of the nine months of 2007. The discussion showed that all our plans find their reflection in life. We have the world’s fastest economic growth, strengthening internal stability and public order. The successful foreign policy of Azerbaijan strengthens the country’s international positions. We have been very active in foreign policy, and have achieved a lot of success.

Of course, we are also pleased with the results of the socio-economic programs being implemented in our country. Due to that, the large-scale improvement and construction activities are underway across the country including Gobustan. There was nothing here two years ago, just an empty area. What we have here today, however, are this wonderful park, the museum, the monument, the youth house, the creativity center and other objects. So, it is the real result of the work done, and the signs of rapid development are in all regions.

Today, I laid the foundation stone of the Olympic sports center to be constructed in Gobustan. I am sure the center will be built soon and placed at the disposal of local sportsmen and residents. It will have very good facilities including swimming pool, various sports grounds and gyms for the sportsmen and people, in general, to do sports. I mean, not only sportsmen but also every citizen should be involved in sports to improve their health.

I also familiarized myself with the newly built trade center. I was told there had not been even a marketplace in Gobustan region until now. People had had to go to Shamakha or Baku for the foodstuffs that had been a great problem for them. Now we have a big trade center that can be even enlarged in the future.

Implementation of social programs is also underway in the region. I know that several secondary schools have been constructed here, and some are under construction, at the expense of the government and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Much attention is being paid to this sphere as well.

So, the signs of progress are clearly seen in Gobustan just like in all other regions of Azerbaijan. We pay great attention to all regions of Azerbaijan, and the main purpose of the State Program of Socio-Political Development of Regions was to achieve development in the provinces of Azerbaijan. Our capital city is experiencing a period of development as all necessary infrastructures, industrial potential and economic possibilities are concentrated in Baku. But we also want the conditions existing in the regions including infrastructure and other facilities to be improved. To this end, we build there new schools, hospitals, trade centers and roads. Construction of a new road from Baku to Gobustan and further to the border is expected to start soon. It will breathe fresh air into the region because a road means progress. No progress is possible where there is no road. Therefore, I am confident that construction of a modern, world-class road will contribute and give an impetus to economic development of the region.

Attention should also be given to creation of agricultural products processing enterprises in Gobustan just like in other regions.

Large-scale improvement and construction activities are underway, and the constructed buildings meet high standards. For example, this beautiful museum or these other buildings in the park were designed very tastefully. In other words, the regions of Azerbaijan are developing. Much attention is paid to the regional development program. Practical measures are underway to eliminate unemployment and reduce poverty in the provinces. Of course, doing that, first and foremost, requires appropriate state programs. And such programs exist, both on fighting poverty - we are implementing that in collaboration with the World Bank - and on elimination of unemployment.

The economy of Azerbaijan is developing in many fields. Processing enterprises, activities of the AgroLeasing Joint Stock Company - all this are factors capable to encourage development of private sector and agriculture. These programs exist, and the government is taking all necessary measures. It is also truth, however, that unless the decisions made by the center are executed properly, unless there is local initiative, our achievements will probably be imperfect.

Only complex measures can lead us to the real progress. Proper decisions, deliberated economic and social programs, funding resources for and mechanisms of their implementation, and their proper implementation at a local level are the factors that can help us get closer to our goals and solve all the problems facing Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has wonderful socio-political environment. Large-scale infrastructure projects are being implemented in Azerbaijan. Budget spending is on the rise. Yesterday, we had a broad exchange of views on the matter, and instructions were given on what we should do further, what fields we should have developed. We meant those that will serve all-round development of Azerbaijan.

For the time being, our position in the region is very strong. The energy projects, oil-and-gas operations as well as the transport and infrastructure projects are what make Azerbaijan stronger in many aspects.

In future, our possibilities will only increase. Thanks to the Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy, Azerbaijan is awaiting huge currency inflows in the coming years. We will have all fields developed. The state investments increase yearly, businessmen continue to receive loans - it is the third year in a row that nearly $100 million have been set aside from the state budget to these purposes. Development of the private sector, agriculture and processing enterprises will lead to elimination of unemployment and poverty and create better living conditions for the people.

Social protection of the people working in public sector is always a focus of our attention as they have neither possibilities nor time to do business. That is why the government takes care of them. Rise in their salaries, minimum and average salaries will be a great help to them.

We increase our budget spending very considerably. Yesterday, I announced that the state budget of Azerbaijan has grown 10-fold in the past four years. Everybody realizes well what it means - 10-fold more investments, higher payments and realization of new infrastructure projects. In other word, Azerbaijan has every opportunity to solve economic and social problems. Our country is becoming much stronger from economic, social and political standpoints - it is strengthening its regional positions, and developing its relations with neighboring countries. It is very important for us because we live in this region and should maintain good relations with neighboring states and further develop them. Our relations with all states are built on equal rights, mutual interest and respect basis.

Azerbaijan is already occupying a firm position in the world. Our country is highly respected, and it is not accidental that it is invited to cooperation within various international organizations. In many cases, we are initiators of quite a number of political and economic projects, that strengthens our international relations and create better conditions for development of Azerbaijan.

Very good and prosperous future awaits our country. I am sure that in a few years, we will be ranked among developed countries. All the work done and achievements indicate that. However, the country still faces quite a number of problems that we of course are aware of. There are both social and economic problems. In some cases, we witness violations of the social justice principle and lack of proper attitude to our national-moral values. So, we should deal with these issues constantly. Solving social problems, establishment of social justice and safeguarding our national-moral values are of vital importance for the country.

The power of our country, improvement of people’s well-being and in general the future of the Azerbaijani people - all this depends on us, on how we work, how we are devoted to our nation and our land. And the youth growing up in the spirit of patriotism should take advantage of these great opportunities. They should study well, work well and find their place in life. They should use their knowledge and skills for further development of our country.

We have huge opportunities, natural resources. We already extract these resources from the seabed and export them to the world markets benefiting from that hugely. It creates great economic opportunities for us. We should use those opportunities by converting this capital to human capital orienting that towards improvement of education, healthcare and infrastructure. In other words, all the problems related to people’s everyday life should be solved. Development of urban and rural economies as well as the improvement and construction work is what we are engaged in. I can say that over the past period, Azerbaijan has taken a big step forward and continued to advance as seen from both statistic data and real outcomes.

We are building a modern state based on the national values, the sate providing its people with all freedoms, stability and security. I want the people of Azerbaijan live in prosperity. We have not yet achieved it, that has both objective and subjective reasons. The dynamics, however, is positive. The people of Azerbaijan live better every year. This dynamics will further rise to create positive changes in every region and every village of the country. People should feel that in their lives. Of course, the macroeconomic indicators, high rate of GDP growth, increase in industrial production and other indicators are very important for every country. But what really concerns people is their living standard, and we will continue to exert our efforts to improve it. Feeling the great support from the Azerbaijani people, we will continue to take all necessary actions and realize reforms with more courage and confidence.

Today, having familiarized myself with the situation here in Gobustan, I have made sure again that the signs of development are seen in every region of the country. But we should work even more, and we should work even better. All of us from the President to a junior official, each activist, each member of the society, the whole Azerbaijani people should aim at a common target to make our country stronger.

Now we have quite strong positions in both region and the world. We should act to make them even stronger because increase in Azerbaijan’s power will improve living standards of every resident of the country.

I wish you all every success in this work, prosperity of your region and progress of our country.

Thank you.