Speech by Ilham Aliyev in the foundation-laying ceremony for the Jeyranbatan water treatment ultra-filtration facility

- Dear friends, my greetings to you all! It is a remarkable and memorable day today. Exactly 50 years ago, on 8 September 1961, the first water treatment plant was commissioned here. Today, on this momentous day, we are starting the construction of a new facility that will meet the latest standards. This very important event shows that independent Azerbaijan is successfully resolving the water supply issue, which is highly important to everyone. This process began 50 years ago, and the facilities built here since then, of course, complied with the requirements of the time. These facilities existed in the late 1990s, they have been repaired. But we are trying and must try to bring the most sophisticated technologies to Azerbaijan, apply them to all the spheres. I want to reiterate that we must ensure this high level in water supply, which is central to human health.

This project will require great funds. About 100 million manats is required. But the Azerbaijani state is and will be spending money. This is investment in health. The most important investment is the investment made in human capital in Azerbaijan. The successful economic policy we are implementing gives us the opportunity to invest major funds into social issues. Investment is also made to create social infrastructure, wages and pensions are raised. In short, our social policies are going in the right direction, the infrastructure projects, which are an integral part of these policies, the conditions being created for people’s comfort certainly please us a lot.

We in Azerbaijan are taking various measures in the interests of people’s health. Of course, the first condition is the presence of clean drinking water. We are dealing with these issues. The modern facility we are laying the foundation of today serves this goal. At the same time, we are taking very important steps to improve the environmental situation in Azerbaijan. Last year was announced the Year of the Environment in Azerbaijan. I am absolutely sure that environmental measures will have a positive impact on human health. Clean water, clean air, quality food, environment, medical care, sports – these are the main contributors to human health.

Azerbaijan has a carefully thought-out program and concept relating to the issues I have mentioned. Olympic sports facilities and sports grounds are built in Azerbaijan, there are conditions for doing sports. We are building modern diagnostic and treatment centers in all our districts, renovating and equipping district hospitals with modern facilities. Environmental measures are taken. Around 10 million trees have been planted in Azerbaijan in the last 18 months alone. Modular water treatment units have been built in the villages located along the Kura and Aras rivers. Currently, hundreds of thousands of citizens are provided with clean drinking water.

As in all other directions, our country is doing important work to improve the environmental situation. A waste disposal plant is under construction in the Balakhani settlement of Baku. We all remember the previous plight of the Balakhani landfill. The clouds of smoke billowing from there used to envelope the whole city. Now there is a clean area there. Trees are planted, green areas set up, a modern waste disposal plant using cutting-edge technologies is under construction.

Why do I say all this today? Because the work we are doing, including the facility we are laying the foundation of today, pursues one goal: all of this work is done to improve the environmental situation in Azerbaijan, address pressing issues and the most important health problems for Azerbaijani citizens.

Other important projects related to water supply have been and are still being implemented in Azerbaijan. I think the construction of the Oguz-Gabala-Baku water line is a historic event because, as you know, there have been various opinions and suggestions on this project for many years. Azerbaijan has implemented the project only after restoring its independence. As a result of gradual commissioning of the Oguz-Gabala-Baku pipeline, water supply in a number of districts of Baku has substantially improved. The main task we have set is to ensure continuous round-the-clock water supply in every population center, settlement and district of Baku. AzerSu is currently implementing water supply projects not only in Baku but also throughout our republic. There is a specific program. Additions have been made to this year’s budget, additional funds are envisaged so that we don’t waste any time. We must quickly resolve our country’s perennial problem of water shortage which has always plagued us.

I am sure that AzerSu with its new team of professionals will apply a new approach to resolving all these issues.

I can see that the company is developing, using a modern methodology, a modern approach, and that’s the way it should be. Azerbaijan’s major companies, in particular public companies, must have the highest quality of management. A modern approach, proper organization of work, correct analysis, proper preparation of programs and execution procedures must meet global standards. It would not suit a developing country such as Azerbaijan to have a state agency governed by primitive methods. Modernity, the use of advanced technologies, responsibility and conscience – this is what I would recommend to any state agency. I am confident that as a result of managerial strengthening, AzerSu’s work will meet global requirements. At least these were the recommendations and instructions I has when appointing the company’s manager. I can see that the work done in a short period of time was done properly.

The Oguz-Gabala-Baku water pipeline was a large and very complex project. Naturally, there have been certain mistakes and shortcomings. The reason is that after opening the pipeline, we had to wait for the situation to normalize in order to correct the mistakes made during construction. We are and will be doing this. We need to talk about everything openly.

But along with this, the Oguz-Gabala-Baku project is a historic event. I am sure that the construction and launch of the pipeline, the high-level services provided to Azerbaijani citizens are indeed a historic matter. Because this is our own source. This water is formed on the territory of Azerbaijan. You, the people engaged in this work, will know very well that our major water sources, the water lines supplying Baku are fed by sources outside Azerbaijan. Oguz-Gabala-Baku is a project whereby clean drinking water formed on the territory of Azerbaijan is delivered to Baku. At the same time, as I have mentioned earlier, the implementation of water and sanitation projects has started or is about to start in all districts and district centers. This is a huge project. This work is and should be carried out not in one or two cities, but in all district centers.

Therefore, a lot depends on the employees of AzerSu. The task has been set to resolve these issues in the shortest time. Key issues are to be resolved before the end of 2013. Of course, when setting a goal, we must be realistic and try to resolve these issues in the shortest possible time. This is very extensive and large-scale work. At the same time, it is a wonderful and noble cause. Water means life. Clean water means healthy life. We want the citizens of Azerbaijan, the younger generation to be healthy. The entire work being done in the ever-strengthening Azerbaijan today, I want to repeat, must meet the highest international standards.

I am confident that the employees of AzerSsu are well aware of the important tasks they are facing. Not only the construction of these facilities, but also the laying of water and sewage lines, their operation are very important. Lines and beautiful facilities can and will be built. But after that the most important task for you in your daily lives should be to ensure a sustainable supply of drinking water to citizens, residents of Baku and the republic. I am sure that you will be attentive to all the issues I have identified and fulfill my instructions with dignity.

It is a great and historic day today. I want to say again that 50 years ago there was a historic event in the area of water supply of Baku. The first water treatment plant was built. It is another historic day today because in 18 months the population of Baku will be provided with drinking water conforming to World Health Organization standards. I wish you success in all these activities. I am sure that after 18 months we will participate in the opening of a new, modern and beautiful facility together. Thank you.

Speaking on behalf of the staff of the Jeyranbatan water pipelines department, Yazgul Rustamova expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and said: