Dear participants of the conference,

Dear friends,

I extend my heartfelt greetings to you, the participants of the first conference of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's “Regional Development” Public Union, and wish each of you the best of health and success in your activities in the name of the development of our country.

Today, Azerbaijan is a powerful state, which pursues an independent policy and which enjoys a vital position on the international arena. Renovation and construction works are being implemented, new educational institutions and medical centers are being built, infrastructure projects are being carried out in almost all cities and districts of our country. Since the very first day of its founding, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been actively working in almost all spheres of public life and trying to solve different problems of the population. Each of our projects is primarily aimed at serving people's interests and providing help to those in need.

When we were establishing the “Regional Development” Public Union, our primary goal was to solve the problems worrying the people through building a constructive cooperation model among government agencies, non-governmental organizations, entrepreneurs and local people. I think we have succeeded. Successful results have been achieved in the implementation of projects covering such areas as the strengthening of public control in regions, civil society building, public and political, and socio-cultural life of our country.

I would like to emphasize the activities of volunteers who joined the initiatives of the “Regional Development” Public Union and actively contributed to the projects. Being Azerbaijani youth, you have become an active participants of the civil society building in our country, giving a worthy response to state attention and care. However, new targets and tasks lie ahead. I wish each of you success in this honorable and benevolent, at the same time, responsible work.

I am confident that broad and fruitful discussions to be held at the conference will contribute to the implementation of far-reaching endeavors in your future activities.

Mehriban Aliyeva

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 27 October, 2017