Your Highness dear Sheikh,

Dear guests,

Dear friends,

Today, in the heart of everyone there is deep and big respect for memory of the nationwide leader of our people Heydar Aliyev. Today's Azerbaijan is Heydar Aliyev's product. All of us remember, how after gaining independence, our country has faced very big problems, difficulties. Actually, the destiny of statehood of Azerbaijan was in doubt. The country was on the verge of disintegration. The occurred negative processes in the country, chaos, anarchy, arbitrariness, and civil confrontation could erase actually Azerbaijan from the map of the world. Heydar Aliyev’s resoluteness, belief of people in him, his political ability, experience and knowledge has rescued our people from the big disasters.

Since 1993, Azerbaijan confidently moved ahead, developed. All spheres of life of our country are in development. First of all, economic development is available. The radical economic reforms started in mid-1990s have created a strong basis for all-around development of Azerbaijan today. Now, the economy, which has achieved big development on this fundamental, strong basis, develops. Today, on growth of economic development Azerbaijan is the most advanced country in the world.

In Azerbaijan, also successfully go ahead the political processes, processes of establishment of civil society, in the country are provided development of democracy, supremacy of law. We supervising Azerbaijan now, realize this big responsibility. This inherited public atmosphere, this fine conditions and national unity should be preserved. This stability should be strengthened, this order be protected. Therefore, we realize this big responsibility. As the President, I try to use the best efforts that have been provided steady development of Azerbaijan that citizens of the country lived in calmness and that stability has been protected. I think that the work done during two years gives the basis to tell that we have not turned from this way.

While I was elected on the post of President and in the statement on inauguration I also marked that we shall firmly stand on the given position and we shall not turn from this way. Today, the life shows that between our words and affairs there is unity.

Heydar Aliyev’s policy lives and should live. Other way for normal development of our country is not present. We provide both the successes achieved in economic development, and strengthening of positions of Azerbaijan on international arena, wider attention to social questions, development of democratic processes in Azerbaijan, protection of stability. Those aspiring to break this stability by force know that cannot achieve it. The forces wishing to test our force, most likely, will be and further. But we have shown the force. During the necessary moment we with full determination, safely undertake all steps.

I am for the peace. I am the supporter of normal attitudes in the society including in political plane, also I try to achieve it in the work, in the accepted decisions. But if someone wishes to aggravate the situation in Azerbaijan, resorts to illegal ways he should know that from our side very serious steps would be undertaken. The decisive steps should be undertaken and have been undertaken so that stability in the country has been protected, that people lived normally. It will be allowed to nobody to resort here to illegal actions. Or again to push Azerbaijan to that conditions which it has gone through in early 1990s. It is already a history.

Development of Azerbaijan will promote that each citizen in the country lived normally that our country developed that Azerbaijan has managed even more to strengthen its place in the world community.

We hold up each other in this cause. I am very glad, that attitudes between the state and religion in Azerbaijan become stronger every day and are at very high level. I have stated the ideas about the reason of it, being here the last year. I think that warm friendship between great leader Heydar Aliyev and His Highness the Sheikh have given to this a powerful pulse. Today these attitudes go on. Our personal attitudes are very much cordial, at the same time, the links between the state and religion are very strong.

Azerbaijan is a secular state. In Azerbaijan the religion is separated from the state. But, despite of it, links, attitudes between the state and religion are very strong. I also aspire to even more strengthen these links. All of us, including believers of Azerbaijan, aspire that Azerbaijan became stronger, richer, has turned to a powerful state.

Certainly, the economic potential plays the basic role in all-round development of our country. All is connected to it. And our parameters are available. Our budget increases, the wages raise, there is intensive growth of economic development. At the same time, the important role for normal development of any country is played with national solidarity. It, too, takes place in Azerbaijan and every day becomes stronger. Representatives of all nationalities, all religions live in Azerbaijan as one family, and I am very glad to the high level of tolerance in our country. Our country can and should become a sample for other countries. As you know, now the great value in the world is given to dialogue between civilizations. In many countries of the world this dialogue or is not carried out, or inter-confessional attitudes are not up to the mark. In Azerbaijan, they have reached the highest level. Representatives of all religions living in our country feel it. As the President, I try, that all nations living in Azerbaijan, representatives of all religions felt this care. That has enough evident acknowledgement.

I remember, when has died the Pope of Rome, we together with His Highness the Sheikh took part in ceremony of funeral in Rome. We have expressed the respect and honor for memory of the Pope. After that my official visit to Vatican has taken place and during the visit the landsite documents for new Catholic Church, which will be constructed in Azerbaijan, have been submitted. I am very glad that construction of church already began, and stone-laying ceremony has been carried out.

The Patriarch of All Russia Alexiy II visited Azerbaijan and we had a very warm meeting. As you know, Alexiy II has awarded me with the highest award of Russian Orthodox Church. All this is necessary and important, as unites us even more. You know, that I have regular meetings with the Jewish community living in Azerbaijan - both in places of their compact residing, and in Baku and other places of our country. All these are the main conditions for normal development of Azerbaijan. I am very glad that we have achieved national solidarity in Azerbaijan that interethnic relations in Azerbaijan are at a high level. I undertake and further I shall undertake all necessary steps in this sphere.

It is very glad, that today we are again together. We are together in sacred month of Ramadan. It already became fine tradition. The last year I was here, we together were present at the iftar party, and today I am here. It is necessary for development of Azerbaijan. We have very sincere attitudes with His Highness the Sheikh, and we frequently meet, and discuss various questions. Such unity is necessary also for us, and the country. It is necessary for all believers, all citizens.

I want to express once again to His Highness respect. I thank for the invitation to take part in this ceremony. I remember being here the last year, I have told that if invite, I shall come and the next year and always I shall be with you. Thanks.