President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have visited Shamakhi district to familiarize themselves with the work done to eliminate the consequences of the earthquake.

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First of all, President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited a new house in Salman Mumtaz Street owned by Rasim Hasanov. The earthquake made the house uninhabitable.

Grandmother Saray: Welcome!

President Ilham Aliyev: How are you?

Grandmother Saray: Thank you! Thank you, Mrs. Aliyeva.

First lady Mehriban Aliyeva: Hello. I am very happy!

Grandmother Saray: May Allah grant you many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, my daughter. As many as I have. I have many, praise be to Allah. You are welcome!

First lady Mehriban Aliyeva: Thank you very much, may Allah grant you many more years of life.

Grandmother Saray: You have inspired me so much with your arrival. Thank you very much. You have done everything for us. Praise be to Allah for the fact that you are visiting us.

First lady Mehriban Aliyeva: How could we not come?

Grandmother Saray: I swear to Allah – I knew that Ilham would come. He came and created all the conditions for us. And fulfilled all my wishes as a mother.

Mehriban Aliyeva: He told me so much about you that I was looking forward to meeting you.

Grandma Saray: Thank you for coming, I was waiting for you too. I love you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: A month has passed, so here we are again. I have come after a month. In another month, a beautiful house will be ready for you.

Grandmother Saray: Thank you, this is all thanks to you. I knew that you would come.

President Ilham Aliyev: The first house to be built after the earthquake is yours.

Grandmother Saray: Yes it is. Thank you. You have created all the conditions. Thank you very much. May Allah grant you longevity. I hope you grow old together and have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.

First lady Mehriban Aliyeva: Thank you very much.

Grandmother Saray: Thank you, you have done a lot for us. May Allah help you.

President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the conditions in the house.

President Ilham Aliyev: How do you like the conditions now?

Grandmother Saray’s daughter-in-law Sevda Hasanova: Thank you very much. We are proud of you. Thank you for supporting the people of Azerbaijan.

President Ilham Aliyev: There is our photo here. You will probably add today's photo too.

Sevda Hasanova: Thank you. May Allah grant you good health. May Allah help you.

President Ilham Aliyev: This house is bigger than the old one.

Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov: Yes, it is much bigger – 131 square meters.

Then President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva had a chat with Grandmother Saray and her family members over tea.

Grandmother Saray: You are also my children – honest and very worthy. I am proud of you.

President Ilham Aliyev: You deserve this. All of Azerbaijan knows and loves you.

Grandmother Saray: Praise be to the Almighty. I was also a strong woman. I worked on grape plantations.

President Ilham Aliyev: The house was built in one month. All the others will also be built. Here, in Aghsu and in Ismayilli, all buildings in emergency condition will be rebuilt. I was in Aghsu yesterday, met with the local people there. There are destroyed houses there too. I told them too that all the houses would be rebuilt. A list has been made and all emergency houses will be rebuilt by the state.

Grandmother Saray: Thank you, Ilham. May God bless you.

Then President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva listened to the wishes and requests of family members. The head of state gave relevant instructions on these issues.

Sevda Hasanova: May Allah help you. We are very pleased with you. We are proud of you, thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: An earthquake is a natural disaster. It has happened before. A few years ago, it happened in Zagatala and Balakan districts. There, too, more than 3,000 homes were rebuilt. More than 1,000 houses will be rebuilt and restored here as well. Fortunately, no-one died. Everyone is alive and well. We have met you and built a new house. The houses affected by the earthquake in Shamakhi, Aghsu and Ismayilli districts will also be rebuilt. And our people know that. I should also note that this work is carried out in such a short time only in Azerbaijan. Earthquakes and floods occur everywhere. In developed countries, the state does not provide any help at all. All homes are insured, people pay insurance premiums and after an earthquake simply contact insurance companies. And the latter analyze the situation. Months go by, then citizens are paid insurance money and build their own houses. What is happening in Azerbaijan? A day after the earthquake a commission arrived – the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the executive authorities. This again shows that the Azerbaijani state stands by its citizens, supports them, and people who find themselves in a difficult situation should always know that the state will help them. This is the work done. This is the first house. Thousands more homes will be built.

Grandmother Saray said pointing a baby: This is my great-grandson, his name is Emin. Thank you for coming. Thank you so much for all your help.

A photo was taken in conclusion.

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After that, President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva spoke to residents of Salman Mumtaz Street and listened to their concerns.

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello, glad to see you.

Residents: Hello, you are welcome. May Allah bless you! You have honored us by your visit. Thank you very much.

Resident: I have a letter for you.

President Ilham Aliyev: I will examine it.

Resident: Our house is also being knocked down and rebuilt there.

President Ilham Aliyev: Is it destroyed? I will definitely examine the situation. As for houses, don’t worry. All houses will be restored.

Resident: Thank you for building and creating like this in Azerbaijan. May Allah help you. May Allah always allow you to lead our country.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.

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President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva also reviewed the house of Vahid Shikhiyev under construction.

President Ilham Aliyev: Is this your home?

Vahid Shikhiyev: Welcome, Mr. President. Yes it is.

President Ilham Aliyev: See how quickly they are building it.

Vahid Shikhiyev: They knocked down the old house and are building a new one in its place. May Allah grant you good health and a long life, Mr. President.

President Ilham Aliyev: It will be an even more beautiful house.

Vahid Shikhiyev: Yes, on behalf of my grandchildren and my entire family, we express our deep appreciation to you. Thank you very much!

Vahid Shikhiyev’s wife: May Allah protect you for the benefit of the Azerbaijani people. We are proud to have a president like you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. When will the construction be completed?

Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov: In about a month, a month and a half.

President Ilham Aliyev: A month. Where do you live now?

Vahid Shikhiyev: We are staying with our relatives. We are grateful to our family and friends.

President Ilham Aliyev: Wait a little. It will be built in one month at the latest.

Vahid Shikhiyev: May Allah help you.

President Ilham Aliyev: You can also see the house of grandmother Saray.

Vahid Shikhiyev’s wife: May Allah be pleased with you.

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President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva also familiarized themselves with the new house in Teymur Aliyarbayov Street owned by Elmira Hasanova.

Elmira Hasanova: Hello and welcome!

Mehriban Aliyeva: Hello, we spoke on the phone with you.

President Ilham Aliyev: How are the conditions?

Elmira Hasanova: Thank you very much, everything is great.

Elmira Hasanova’s daughter: Mrs. Aliyeva, I have always wanted to meet you.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Really? And I wanted to meet with you.

Elmira Hasanova: May Allah protect you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.

Then a photo was taken.

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President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva laid flowers at a statue of the national leader in the culture and recreation park after Heydar Aliyev in the center of the district.

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As a result of the earthquake, the house of Vugar Teyfurov in Sattar Bahlulzadeh Street also became unserviceable. President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva asked about the conditions in the new house built on the site of the old one.

Vugar Teyfurov: Welcome, Mr. President!

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello, glad to see you!

Mehriban Aliyeva: Good afternoon!

President Ilham Aliyev: Is the house ready?

Vugar Teyfurov: May Allah help you – it is finished. Let me express gratitude to you on behalf of our family. Thank you very much, may Allah protect you. May Allah grant you longevity in the name of a prosperous Azerbaijan. Please build and create.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.

The head of state and first lady got acquainted with the conditions in the house.

President Ilham Aliyev: And there is a piano. Do you play?

Vugar Teyfurov: Yes, Mr. President, I am a musician. If you wish, I can perform for you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Please do.

Then the head of state and the first lady listened to the performance by Vugar Teyfurov.

President Ilham Aliyev: Excellent performance of the songs “Mother” and “The people will say Heydar”! And with such improvisation!

Vugar Teyfurov: Thank you.

Then a photo was taken.

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Then President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with the residents of Shamakhi.

Residents: Welcome, Mr. President!

Resident: Mr. President, this child’s name is Ilham Aliyev. He has come to see you.

Resident: I am a teacher, a veteran.

Resident: Greetings! Welcome!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you!

Resident: We welcome and support you. You are welcome!

Resident: My child needs help.

President Ilham Aliyev: I will help you.

Resident: We are proud that we have a president like you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. I am also proud of you. Don’t worry, all letters will be examined.

Resident: Mr. President, we are very grateful to you. I had a problem with the loan. Thank you for the decree you issued regarding the resolution of this issue.

President Ilham Aliyev: How much money did you take?

Resident: Five thousand dollars. I am even entitled to compensation.

President Ilham Aliyev: You will also get the money back.

Residents: God bless you!

Then President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Dear friends, my greetings! All houses in Shamakhi destroyed by the earthquake will be rebuilt and restored. You know that I arrived in Shamakhi immediately after the earthquake and got acquainted with the situation. I immediately issued an instruction to restore and build houses in a short time. We have already marked the opening of the first houses today, including the house of Grandmother Saray. Several other houses have also been built. The foundation of a new multi-apartment building will now be laid. Thousands of houses will be built and restored in Shamakhi, Aghsu and Ismayilli districts. The Azerbaijani state always stands by its citizen. We have a strong social policy and all the houses affected by the earthquake will be built and restored at state expense.

I received letters in Aghsu yesterday and here today. All of them will be examined. The letters contain various proposals, complaints and requests. There are letters related to court cases, housing, unemployment, social injustice. All letters will be carefully examined. Please pass them on to my assistants. I will examine them myself and give the necessary instructions. The Azerbaijani state is pursuing a consistent social policy. All issues of concern to citizens will be resolved. I came here to hear this from you. Thank you for this support and for this respect. I warm greetings! You can rest assured that all issues will be resolved.

District elder: Mr. President, welcome!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much!

District elder: You are a pillar for the entire Azerbaijani people. We, the people of Shamakhi, love you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: I love you very much too.

District elder: Thank you very much! May Allah grant you longevity!

President Ilham Aliyev: A beautiful apartment building will be constructed on this territory.

District elder: I came and looked around. You did a great job!

President Ilham Aliyev: Do you want to tell me something?

District elder: I want to say that the Soviet government tried for 70 years to eliminate the difference between cities and villages. But it failed. President Ilham Aliyev has eliminated this difference in 15 years. Have a look – Shamakhi starts from the village of Damirchi and ends in the village of Gushchu.

President Ilham Aliyev: We have built a road to Damirchi.

District elder: An asphalt road has been built to both villages.

President Ilham Aliyev: To Lahij.

District elder: If a car goes there, there is no village in Shamakhi where it would be impossible to drive. Thank you very much!

President Ilham Aliyev: Right, thank you!

District elder: There is gas, electricity and water. We live well. May Allah grant you a long life.

President Ilham Aliyev: I try to do everything for our citizens to live even better. Roads, gas, electricity, water, jobs. The complaints have now been communicated and will also be examined. The houses affected by the earthquake will be rebuilt. Only a month has passed, several houses are ready and several more are under construction. The foundation of an apartment building is being laid. All destroyed houses will be rebuilt. They will probably be 100 times better than before.

District elder: I want to say something. Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva has sent us several buses. They work day and night. Buses go to all villages of Shamakhi now. May Allah grant you good luck in all your endeavors.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much, elder!

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The head of state and first lady laid the foundation for a new apartment building to be constructed for the families affected by the earthquake. It was noted that the four-storey 44-apartment building under construction on 20 January Street will be equipped with all the necessary infrastructure. It will accommodate four one-room, 32 two-room and eight three-room apartments.

President Ilham Aliyev lowered a cartridge into the foundation and the concrete mixer was activated.

Then a photo was taken.

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President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of the newly-built orphanage-kindergarten No 4 in Shahriyar settlement, Shamakhi district.

The orphanage-kindergarten was built as part of the Preschool Institutions’ Development Program implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The head of state and first lady cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the orphanage-kindergarten.

President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva then viewed conditions created here.