Ilham Aliyev met with MPs of ruling party elected to the Milli Majlis

Head of state and Chairman of Yeni Azerbaijan Party Ilham Aliyev greeted MPs of ruling party elected to the Milli Majlis by saying:

- First of all, I would like to congratulate you all – the members of Yeni Azerbaijan Party – on the occasion of your victory gained in parliamentary elections. Today, the Constitutional Court approved the election results, and the first parliamentary session will take place. As you know elections were held in a very fair and transparent manner. Yeni Azerbaijan Party gained expected victory as a leading political force of our country.

During last 5 years and in the period starting from last parliamentary elections, our party has fostered further its positions. Truly to say, our party is the nationwide party which unites all our society and its strata. Very important work was carried out in the country on the initiative of our party. The party was created as oppositional one under the leadership and on initiative of Heydar Aliyev in 1992. But, our party was committed to the statehood principles in all periods of time. Even when the party was in opposition, it has never made any step again national interests. On the contrary, during those years effort were made to pay more attention to the national interests by the forces which were in power in Azerbaijan. It is not by accident that Heydar Aliyev the head of Yeni Azerbaijan Party was elected to the post of President in 1993 with the demand and efforts of the Azerbaijani people. Since that period of time, our party is the party in power. I remember and would like to point out this history because our party was both in opposition and then, in power. Today, Azerbaijani realities show that our party will continue its activities as the ruling party in the years to come.

Our party has the widest international relations. We cooperate very effectively with partner parties. Our international relations serve to the interests of party and of our country. But the most important thing is explained by the fact that Yeni Azerbaijan Party managed to gain a big respect of society. Our representatives’ victory is the bright example of these facts. Of course, each candidate conducted his campaign in his constituency. But it is not by accident that this time the number of our representatives gaining victory was even higher. It demonstrates that Azerbaijani people expresses its attitude to our party in elections in this way. Certainly, the support of our party played an important role in bringing a victory to the elected members of Parliament.

President of Azerbaijan and chairman of Yeni Azerbaijan Party Ilham Aliyev spoke about conditions created for other political parties in elections. He noted that all political forces should play an active role in political life of Azerbaijan.

Then President Ilham Aliyev described the role of Yeni Azerbaijan Party in the society by saying:

We can speak a lot about the role of Yeni Azerbaijan Party inside the society. AS the chairman of the party, I am very pleased during last years, the influx into the ranks of the party is strengthening and it gets wider thanks to the young people joining the ranks of our party. It demonstrates that activities and mission of our party are attractive for the society.

It is not that easy to be a ruling party. Usually, it is easier to criticize everything or stand aside from processes. It is a big responsibility to be a party in power, and all processes going on in the country are linked to the name of our party because the representatives of party are represented in the leadership. But political and economic processes in our country are unfolding in positive direction and of course, the favorable environment in the society serves to the fostering of our party.

The recent parliamentary elections confirmed once again that the reforms in Azerbaijan are on right track. Renovation and refurbishment work taking place in our country is supported by the people and I think the elections results embody indeed this reality.

The Mili Majlis worked efficiently in last five years. Many laws have been adopted. The international relations of Parliament have widened. The role played by the MIlli Majlis in the life of our country is increasing and this is a positive trend. All branches of power should take an active part in the processes going on in the country and of course, successful activities of the Mili Majis impacted positively on the processes going on in our country in general.

Steering bodies of the Milli Majlis as well as its leaders have strengthened these positive trends by their activities. I value highly general activities of the Milli Majlis in last five years and think that these trends and this course should be continued.

Some changes have taken place in a new composition of the Milli Majlis. It is natural because the life never stops. Some percentage of MPs is elected for the first time. This is also necessary. Of course, this is the issue linked to the will of citizens. At the same time, this is also a natural process and the reflection of reforms being implemented in the society.

As far as persons holding managing posts of the Milli Majlis are concerned, I think that their activities can be valued as positive in general.

Assessing highly the activities of the Milli Majlis in last five years, the party chairman Ilham Aliyev said that there is no need to make any changes in the Parliament leadership.

Head of state nominated Oktay Asadov, the party member to the chairmanship of the Milli Majlis, Ziyafet Askarov, the party member to the post of first deputy speaker, Bahar Muradova, the party member to the post of deputy speaker and Valeh Alaskarov, the independent MP to the post of deputy speaker by saying:

I would like to reiterate that the Milli Majlis has a very important role and functions in the contemporary development of Azerbaijan. Parliamentary elections have proved it once again because the public interest to the parliamentary elections shows once again that our citizens wish to see deserved representatives to represent them in the Milli Majlis.

Elections were held in a fully transparent and democratic manner. This is known to our citizens, and international organizations noted it. Therefore I see future activities of the Parliament as very successful and wish it sincerely. I think that the traditions of parliamentarianism are created already in Azerbaijan. This is a positive tradition. The parliament has all possibilities to conduct a civil and ethical political struggle. I think that a new composition of the Milli Majlis will bring more valuable contribution to the work of applying rules of a civil and ethical political struggle.

President Ilham Aliyev informed that methods inconsistent with civil struggle in Parliament are left already behind and wished successes to the Milli Majlis in a new composition by saying:

I think that the Milli Majlis in its new composition is able to bring its contribution to the development of Azerbaijan both from professional and intellectual points of view. I am very pleased that the choice of Azerbaijan people was a right one. Any choice is right because this is the choice made by people. At the same time, I am very delighted that Azerbaijani society has stepped onto a higher level and is able to choose the most suitable representatives.

I hope that during next five years the Milli Majlis and certainly, its leading force – Yeni Azerbaijan Party will contribute to the future development of our country and ensure fully sustainable and long term development of our country and the interests of Azerbaijani people.

Thank you.