SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV
Dear Mrs. Parvanova,
Dear friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen!
We are very pleased of welcoming you in Azerbaijan. Mr. President, I highly value your official visit to Azerbaijan, and hope it will launch a new era of relations between our two countries and people. I make no doubt that the meetings and negotiations here, as well as the documents signed will define new directions of our activities, and contribute to expanding of the bilateral relations.
A new page of the Azerbaijan-Bulgaria relations is opening today in Azerbaijan; a fruitful dialogue is now being conducted for development of cooperation in all fields. Now we can say with confidence that the visit is successfully going on and will play an important role in development of relations between our two countries.
Azerbaijan and Bulgaria maintained quite close cooperation as early as the Soviet times. This fact shows the existence of huge potential for development and expanding the cooperation in certain spheres. Our decision to open an Embassy in Bulgaria is an evidence of the importance we attach to our bilateral relations.
The members of You representative delegation are now conducting fruitful negotiations with their Azerbaijani counterparts. I consider it very expedient to take additional efforts for development and deepening of the bilateral cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian, cultural and tourist spheres. At the same time, I think the Milli Majlis Azerbaijan-Bulgaria interparliamentary working group as well as the joint intergovernmental commission should also make their contribution to the development of the bilateral relations.
Today, Azerbaijan continues to pursue the domestic and foreign policy initiated by national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. From this point of view, Azerbaijan attaches special significance to integration into the European and Euroatlantic structures. Our country is a member of the Council of Europe, and cooperating with the European Security structures and NATO in the framework of the Partnership For Peace Program. I would like to note that Azerbaijan submitted the “Individual Partnership Plan” to the NATO leadership.
Azerbaijan joined the European New Neighborhood Policy. I am grateful for the Bulgaria’s assistance to Azerbaijan within these structures, and hope for further cooperation. Over the years of independence, Azerbaijan has realized political, socio-economic and legal reforms. We have achieved the great progress in establishment and strengthening of the European values, ensuring human rights and freedoms, establishment of democratic institutions and transition to the market economy.
Since 1996, the Gross Domestic Product has averagely increased by 10% per year. Over the last 7 years, the GDP has increased by 90%. In the first quarter of 2004, the economic growth made up 10%. $17 bln were invested during the last 7 years, and $10 bln are going be invested in the next 3 years. Azerbaijan approved poverty reduction program, and that the program of socio-economic development of provinces, and both are being successfully implemented. Important steps have been taken to solve social problems, as well.
However, if it were not the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, our country and the whole region would have made more progress. As a result of the Armenian aggression, 20% of the Azerbaijan’s lands were occupied. Over one million people were ousted from their homes becoming refugees and IDPs. Bulgaria is now presiding the OSCE. I believe during presidency at the OSCE, Bulgaria will support peaceful resolution of the conflict on the base of the international legal norms and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
I am sure that the restoration of the Great Silk Road, laying the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines and the TRACECA program will play an important role in development and integration into Europe of both Azerbaijan and the countries of the region.
Dear Mr. President,
I want once again to pointed our the great significance we attaches to your official visit to the Azerbaijan Republic, and to extend my best wishes for you good health, and constant development and progress of your country and people.
Thank you.
Other news in this section
