Ilham Aliyev examined progress of work under way in the Shagan settlement of the Khazar district

In order to examine progress in the execution of instructions on the landscaping and creative work in the villages and settlements issued at a meeting at the Mayor’s Office of Baku on the socioeconomic development of suburban settlements, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited several population centers. The head of state has examined work under way in the Shagan settlement of the Khazar district.

Baku Mayor Hajibala Abutalibov informed the head of state using a plan of the settlement.

It was indicated that local roads covering almost 35,000 square meters in the Shagan settlement have been asphalted. The lighting system of the settlement is being upgraded in line with modern standards.

About 100 new lampposts have already been installed, and this process is ingoing. Almost all problems relating to power, water and gas supply have been resolved, and there are plans to improve the sanitation system. The work under way, the landscaping and creative activities have completely changed the appearance of the settlement.

After reviewing the landscaping and creative work, President Ilham Aliyev met with local residents and listened to their wishes and suggestions.

After reviewing the landscaping and creative work, President Ilham Aliyev met with local residents.

Residents of the settlement warmly welcomed the head of state.

Saluting local residents, President Ilham Aliyev said:

Good afternoon! I am very pleased that things in the Shagan settlement are going well. The program on the socioeconomic development of the suburban settlements of Baku is proving itself yet again. These roads have been laid over in a short period of time. Yes, work is continuing. I am sure that all the issues covered in the program will be resolved soon.

Thus, the Shagan settlement will become even more beautiful and comfortable. Work was carried out here in the past too. The supply of natural gas has now been ensured. According to my information, there is no problem with gas supply. Electricity issues were resolved even earlier. A drinking water project is being implemented.

The construction of sewer lines is now envisaged, and the construction of these roads.

Thus, the key problems of this settlement will be resolved over a short period of time. I have been informed that additional measures should be taken at this school. Perhaps a new building should be constructed. I was told that this is the opinion of local residents. I have issued the instruction. We will review this issue too. All other issues should also be addressed.

If you remember, a wonderful Olympic center was built here. That was a remarkable event because Olympic centers are usually established in cities and district centers.

Perhaps the experience of establishing an Olympic centre in a settlement exists only in Azerbaijan. I remember attending the inauguration of this center together with you. Yes, it operates today. Athletes come here from Baku, local kids do sports here. I want to reiterate that the program covering the 2011-2013 period was launched very quickly. I am sure that local residents are also actively involved in these matters and are contributing to all these positive initiatives.

Now I want to ask you what else should be done. The program envisages a certain agenda, renovation of the school.

The construction of an additional building was not stipulated, but we will add this clause. There must be a medical station here, but I don’t know what condition it is in. If it needs renovating, let us know and we will do that. Maybe there is something else we need to do. Please express your opinion on this.

Resident: Dear Mr. President!

This is your second visit to the ancient Baku settlement of Shagan in the last one year and eight months. There is an old saying: where there is a leader, a head of state, a national leader, abundance is multiplied by a thousand times.

This is your second visit in one year and eight months, and I think that the Shagan settlement may even leave other suburban settlements of Baku behind.

Dear Mr. President! On 26 December 2009 you personally inaugurated the Shagan Olympic sports complex. I would like to point to an interesting fact: Mr. President, Shagan is a small suburban settlement of Baku. It is ancient but still small. It was not very well-known. But thanks to the international competitions held here since the commissioning of this complex, Shagan has started to be mentioned not only in Azerbaijan or the CIS, but also globally. I consider it my duty to repeat what you mentioned earlier: the opening of such a sports facility, which is more typical of large metropolitan areas, in a small Absheron settlement is an outstanding occasion. On behalf of the people of Shagan and all residents of the district, I would like to express our deep appreciation for that.

Dear Mr. President, you have come to our village on the blessed days of the holy month of Ramadan. Expressing our gratitude to you on behalf of all the residents of our village, I feel compelled to point out the following: on 9 March you chaired a meeting at the Mayor’s Office of Baku. I also attended it. The volume of asphalt laid on Shagan roads in one month exceeds the volume laid in the 70 years of the Soviet power three times. More than 35,000 square meters of roads were paved in just one month. Believe me, there is no analogue to this. Five streets were completely paved in one month.

It is hard to believe that three layers of asphalt have been laid. For 70 years we only had 16 lampposts. Their number has tripled now.

President Ilham Aliyev: This work is still under way.

Resident: Yes, Mr. President, it is still under way! I would like to ask you for a favor. We have a Culture Center. It is very small. If I may say so, it is not possible to provide quality cultural services to the population there. I would like to request you, if possible, to give an order for the construction of a new Culture Center here. We have already identified a place. Also, it is my duty to say that the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, MP Mehriban Aliyeva pays a lot of attention to our settlement. And we thank you and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva for this care and attention.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much! We have indeed completed this work in a short period of time.

You have mentioned that meeting. It was really very important. In fact, all our initiatives, decisions, programs and meetings are of specific nature, and the issues discussed there, the instructions given started being implemented soon. I can even say that the budget for 2011 had already been formed in March 2011. To amend the budget, we had to submit another motion to the Milli Majlis, which we did. The budget was amended to ensure, inter alia, the accelerated implementation of the program on Baku and suburban settlements. I don’t want to waste any time and complete this work in 2011. Several months on hard work is under way not only here, but also in all the settlements around Baku. I often travel to the settlements to see the situation with my own eyes and exercise control. I also ask people what else we must do to finally resolve these issues.

True, the program is designed to last until 2013. But I am absolutely sure that all the issues will be resolved before the end of 2013, perhaps even earlier. In the Shagan settlement we see that we can do the job in several months.

I will issue an instruction regarding the Culture Center. I have already issued the order in connection with the school. Now I want to go and see the condition of the school. The rest of the work will also be carried out here. In fact, there have never been sewer lines not only here but also in any other settlement. In Baku proper there have always been problems with sewage. This issue is also being resolved.

This is how our country is developing. The development of the country depends on the development of each settlement. I have repeatedly said this and I would like to say again that if the problems of each settlement and village are resolved, all the problems of the country will be resolved as well.

I am saluting you again. I wish you further successes. I am sure that you, as ever, will actively participate in these matters.

Resident: Dear Mr. President, thank you for the work you are doing throughout the country, in Baku, in our settlement in particular. We support you. You have touched upon my biggest wish. On behalf of all our residents, children and teachers, thank you for expanding our school. Our school was built in 1961 and first provided education to 250 pupils at a time. At present, 800 pupils study there in two shifts. We are experiencing great difficulties. You have touched upon our wish, and I wanted to add. Thank you again.

Resident: I want to start my remarks in the name of Allah, the merciful and the compassionate. When Allah created this world, he created angels, imams, prophets. Once in 50-60 years, he creates courageous, strong, honest and businesslike people like you, so that they could work for the benefit of the people he has created.

May Allah rest the soul of your father. He worked for the benefit of the people for all his life. May he rest in peace. You are continuing his path, thank you. May Allah grant you a long life. You are 50 now, live another 50 years to do what you have not done yet. I wish you a long life, happiness to your family and patience in everything you do.

I have been working at our school for 50 years. When you came here earlier, I wrote on my first stand, “Forward with Ilham!” Now I am saying, “The people, let’s support our President! Forward with Ilham!”

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. This is my duty, and I am trying to fulfill it by serving the people.

Resident: It is the 17th day of Ramadan today. Allah granted this blessed month to us. May Allah shower you with all the benefits of this month. This is a month when dreams come true. May your dreams come true.

President Ilham Aliyev: I have one dream: to enable the people of Azerbaijan to live better.

Resident: Amen!

President Ilham Aliyev: To develop our country, to make it stronger, to further reinforce our positions in the region and secure all our interests. For that, we must be strong. We are creating this strength ourselves, our financial capabilities are also improving now.

Thanks to the work done in recent years and earlier, Azerbaijan is one of the countries feeling very comfortable from a financial point of view. As you can see, some countries are experiencing a crisis, wages and pensions are being reduced.

Resident: Thank you, my salary has been raised by 61 manats.

President Ilham Aliyev: Has it been raised by 61 manats? So what is it now?

Resident: I used to get 94 manats, now I get 155.

President Ilham Aliyev: And this is happening in 2011, when the world and Europe are gripped by a recession. You know what problems there are. This is our policy.

Resident: May Allah be pleased with you. I wish you a long life.

President Ilham Aliyev: People should live even better. Conditions should be even better. All infrastructure projects must be implemented. Education, health, infrastructure are developing. These are the realities of Azerbaijan.

Let me salute you again in this blessed month of Ramadan, wish you good health and success. I will keep coming to Shagan. I have been here twice and I will come again. Because there will be more events here.

Residents: Thank you very much! We wish you a long life!

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In conclusion, local residents had their picture taken with President Ilham Aliyev.

After the meeting, the President visited secondary school No 124 and examined its condition on the spot. It was indicated that a total of 800 children go the school which is designed for 520 pupils. Classes are held in two shifts.

After examining the situation, President Ilham Aliyev gave the instruction on a major overhaul of the school. Considering the large number of pupils in the settlement, the head of state ordered to build a new school for 1,000 pupils in Shagan instead of constructing an additional building.