I extend to all of you my heartfelt greetings and best wishes for your glorious service to Motherland.

The National Guard of Azerbaijan was created after the country restored its independence. In those years, the National Guard was fighting selflessly against the Armenian occupants sacrificing their lives for independence of Azerbaijan. The anarchy and chaos reigned over the country questioning its very independence and future. The turning point came in 1993 when national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev returned to power in Azerbaijan. This allowed to re-establish peace, stability and order in the country and paved the way for its sustainable development. However, there were forces eager to plunge the country into chaos and anarchy again.

We all remember quite well the coup attempts in 1994-95 suppressed due to the courage of the national leader Heydar Aliyev and support he had from the Azerbaijani people. The role of the National Guard then was also great. Uniting around its leader, the people of Azerbaijan achieved stability and managed to maintain it until now. Stability is the basic condition for development of any country.

Social and political life in Azerbaijan is going well. Our country is a rapidly developing one. The processes taking place in Azerbaijan are decisive for the country’s present and future. Very important steps are being taken towards improvement of the Azerbaijani people’s welfare.

Heydar Aliyev played a great in building of the Special State Security Service and National Guard. It was beginning from the mid 1990s that guardsmen were provided with logistical support, and considerably improved their skills. Today, the process of army building is going on rapidly. The yearly increasing military spending allows us to maintain our military potential on a very high standard. The 2006 military spending is going to be $600 mln against $300 mln in 2005 and 175 mln in 2004. This is a graphic evidence of the governmental care about the army building, which foundation was laid by national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.

Azerbaijan has great possibilities, possesses huge natural resources. As you know, the new oil strategy initiated by Heydar Aliyev in 1994 have led to great changes in Azerbaijan. The dynamic development of our country, rapid economic growth and improvement of the people’s social conditions are the outcomes of that oil strategy. Of course, the Heydar Aliyev Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is playing a key role in maintenance and strengthening peace and stability in the region, and, therefore, sustainable development within Azerbaijan. This pipeline will create better possibilities for Azerbaijan bringing in huge revenues to the country. From this standpoint, the National Guard will have to bear vast responsibility. I am sure security of this pipeline will be duly ensured in the future.

We should make it, and strengthen the defensive potential as we live in conditions of war. Clearing of our lands occupied as a result of aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, is the most important question, the most important problem Azerbaijan faces. We aspire to solve in the peace way the mentioned question. As you know, negotiations are underway, however, the result is not present. Creation of powerful military potential in that case is necessary. It is equitable to our national interests. The potential of the Azerbaijan army, which becomes the big force in region, becomes stronger. Further, we shall support this rate of growth, even more to raise potential of army, to increase the military budget and we shall achieve liberation of the Azerbaijan lands.

Certainly, extremely important role in it is played by strengthening economic potential, preservation of stability in Azerbaijan, maintenance of social order. In the given direction, huge work is carried out, and the role of National Guards in this cause is enormous.

The National Guards has protected great leader Heydar Aliyev during the most difficult periods of the history of Azerbaijan - in 1994-1995, has provided its protection and, thus, has protected independence of the Azerbaijan state. Should there not be Heydar Aliyev, if at that time he did not manage over Azerbaijan, existence of Azerbaijan, as the independent state would be in doubt. And today, the National Guards, Special Service protect me, the President and Supreme Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Azerbaijan Republic. My safety, and, thus, provided stability in Azerbaijan.

I do not doubt that all accepted decisions will be executed, and the goals will be achieved. Azerbaijan develops very intensively. We have great prospects. However, the happy future of our country depends on all of us. All of us, everyone on the place, should aspire to bring contribution to strengthening of the state independence of Azerbaijan.

Social questions of National Guards and Special Services also find solution. To the given questions, we pay big attention, salaries raise, the material base becomes stronger, at the same time we solve household problems of employees. So it also should be. Azerbaijan develops, in our country enormous work is carried out, and each citizen, in particular, each person who is taking place on military service should live well. It should not have household problems, and it should receive the good salary and adequately serve. I am confident that creative work going in our country, dynamics of development will allow us to achieve all targets, comprehensively to strengthen our country. Economic development, social justice, development of political processes in a normal way and protection of stability, calmness and safety of our country are the most important questions in the years ahead.

Azerbaijan will become a rich, powerful state. Now, in the world there are new threats, and new challenges. In some cases, processes going in the world result in very bitter consequences. In the various countries there are monstrous acts of terrorism. In the places, which took place near our borders, it is possible to tell, acts of terrorism are made on a regular basis. But Azerbaijan is a space of stability. Azerbaijan is space of safety. And we should protect, and we protect this stability. We have opportunities for this purpose. First of all, patriotism of Azerbaijani people, normal work of the Azerbaijan military men and law enforcement bodies, operative, and also the technical and other actions spent for prevention of the negative facts which can take place in Azerbaijan, allow us to support this peace and stability in Azerbaijan both now, and henceforth.

At all times, and during management of Azerbaijan in 1970s, our national leader Heydar Aliyev had huge merits before the Azerbaijani people. All life of the national leader - in 1990s as the President of Republic, has provided development of Azerbaijan, has achieved that Azerbaijan became a worthy member of the world community, consist in service to people. One of the major among all carried out works will be that in Azerbaijan stability, calmness, the peace has been established. In Azerbaijan, has been created a strong army, and the military men are capable to solve all tasks put before them.

Dear friends!

Dear soldiers, officers, generals!

Dear guardsmen!

Once again I warmly welcome you and wish successes in your honorable service in the name of Motherland. Thanks.