Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Center in Ujar

- Dear friends! It is a wonderful day today. We are gathered for the opening of a majestic Heydar Aliyev Center in Ujar. Let me congratulate you on this wonderful event and wish you good health! This is truly a magnificent center, a palace. Heydar Aliyev centers are built and operate in Azerbaijani regions and districts. I can tell you that the center in Ujar stands out for its beauty and grandeur. Its appearance, interior design and functionality are amazing. The construction of such centers is a manifestation of people’s respect for the memory of Azerbaijan’s great leader. At the same time, these centers help study the great leader’s political legacy. Besides, the centers should and do conduct various events. I am very pleased that this center has excellent conditions for hosting various events. All important events of the district will be held here. There is Internet, there will be various clubs. In short, this center will live and lend further beauty to Ujar. People can relax in the area around the center, there is a beautiful square, extensive landscaping work has been done.

I am very pleased that there has been successful landscaping and improvement in Ujar in recent years. I am sure these trends will intensify in the coming years. We must make each district, each district center and village nicer and more comfortable. We have the opportunities for that. The creation of such wonderful centers and squares shows that Azerbaijan is developing successfully, that all the problems facing the country are successfully resolved. The foundation of all our successes was laid by great leader Heydar Aliyev.

While celebrating the 20th anniversary of the restoration of our independence and looking back on our history, we can see that the great leader has made exceptional contributions to the future of the Azerbaijani people and state. Heydar Aliyev took on power in Azerbaijan at the request of the people at the most difficult time, stabilized the situation and put Azerbaijan on the path of development. We talked extensively about that during recent celebrations. Various activities marking the restoration of our independence have been held throughout the country. Heydar Aliyev has made an exceptional contribution to establishing the foundations of statehood, the rule of law, democratic principles and reform in Azerbaijan. Today, this policy continues. We are committed to it. Our people are committed to Heydar Aliyev's policy and always cherish his memory. This policy opens up new opportunities for Azerbaijan. Extensive landscaping and improvement work has been ongoing in all our districts in recent years. There is specific work in each district, houses and schools are built, gasification is under way, infrastructure projects are carried out. These factors are key contributors to the comprehensive development of our country.

We have a strong economic potential, this is already a reality. Our positions in the world are growing stronger and these realities are also reckoned with. Azerbaijan is a leading state in regional affairs, a leading state in the South Caucasus. The Azerbaijani economy accounts for 83 per cent of the South Caucasus economy. Our political initiatives play an important part in deepening the regional cooperation. Our standing in the world is strengthening.

Azerbaijan’s recent election as a member of the UN Security Council demonstrates again the strength of our country. It shows how correct our policy is. The processes in Azerbaijan, our economic development are reflected in the statistics. The agencies dealing with these issues, people, experts certainly see and evaluate Azerbaijan’s successful development.

Our election to the UN Security Council by a large majority has presented Azerbaijan in the world as a modern, strong country with great authority. The international community has great respect for and confidence in Azerbaijan. A total of 155 countries have supported us, 155 countries have defended us, believed in us, bound their hopes with us. Of course, we will live up to these expectations. First of all, we will live up to the expectations of the Azerbaijani people, as we already do. Clear evidence of this is the reform and the work done in our country. We will also live up to the expectations of our partners and friends. While in the UN Security Council, the highest authority in the world, we will defend the principles we are committed to – first of all, justice. We approach everything from the standpoint of justice. Both our domestic processes and our foreign political initiatives are based on the principles of justice.

In the Security Council, we will uphold international law. We are in favor of resolving all issues in line with international law. There is no and cannot be an alternative mechanism in the world. Principles of international law are accepted by the world community because they are fair. Our just cause in the Karabakh conflict, the issue of occupation of our lands should also be resolved only on the basis of international law.

The UN Security Council we have recently become a member of has passed four resolutions on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. It has passed fair decisions. Unfortunately, these decisions have yet to be implemented.

We have already entered this influential body. We have joined a group of selected countries. Of course, we will protect our interests and inform the world community about our country and region more broadly. But I must say that while this vote is very joyful and pleasant for us, it also raises our responsibility. We are ready to take on this responsibility.

Otherwise we would not have nominated ourselves. At the same time, this vote shows that the world has sufficient information about Azerbaijan. In some cases, people often refer to the opinion of the world community. The international community means all countries. The vast majority of them are near Azerbaijan. So the international community is with us. In the future, when putting forward an idea or a thought and referring to the international community, certain circles should know that the opinion of the international community is shown by this vote. Azerbaijan is a country approved by the international community. This is a great achievement and success. This is evidenced by the fact that Azerbaijan has chosen the right path in recent years. I repeat, this course was shown to us by the great leader. In recent years, we have remained committed to his political and spiritual heritage, conducted reforms and significantly strengthened our country.

We have always been and are still engaged in specific actions. The improvement in all our districts, the creation of new jobs in the districts and the construction of such beautiful palaces – these are the realities of present-day Azerbaijan. Even in the most difficult and critical years for the world our economy keeps growing, our wages and pensions are rising, there are no delays in the implementation of infrastructure projects. All these promises are fulfilled.

At the same time, there is no division in the country over our foreign policy. In some cases though people calling themselves experts have been speaking both at home and abroad about our foreign policy. Sometimes they express critical ideas, arguing that Azerbaijan’s balanced policy is wrong, that we should get closer to some forces and pass under their wing. This vote has totally dispelled all these erroneous and harmful thoughts. This vote shows that our policy is the only correct one. It is not a balanced policy. I want to say again: it is an independent policy. We, as an independent country, respect ourselves, our nation and state. We base our policy solely on the interests of the Azerbaijani people. We have established equal relations with all countries regardless of their size and power. These are already well-established relations. Azerbaijan is recognized in the world as a reliable partner and a decent country. So I am sure there will be no disagreement on foreign policy in the future. This vote is the best measure of how successful our policy is. Why do I pay so much attention to this? Not only because it is a great victory – we are rightfully proud. But because this victory sums up 20 years of our independence. This is a certain stage, the highest level we have achieved. But we should not feel complacent. We are optimistic of the future. We have specific plans and programs for the future, and they are implemented. What progress will Azerbaijan achieve in the next 20 years?! How will Azerbaijan develop in the next 50 years?! We are laying the foundation for the next 50 years today.

I said at a recent Cabinet meeting that our economy grew three times over the past eight years. This is unparalleled in the world. In the next 10 years, the economy should grow twofold. This is a very serious signal and a big commitment. It will not be easy to do. If we consider that our present economic potential is already quite strong, it will require great skill and professionalism to double it. But I believe and know that thanks to proper implementation of the adopted programs we will achieve that and perhaps even over-fulfill the plan. We must secure this development primarily by the non-oil sector and districts. Therefore, along with landscaping and creative work in each district, we are implementing investment projects, opening new enterprises, creating jobs and the economy is developing rapidly.

I want to reiterate that today's event, this majestic Heydar Aliyev Center, this beautiful square, in essence, epitomize Azerbaijan’s development. The developing and thriving Azerbaijan needs such buildings. Schools, buildings, hospitals, roads, landscaping and improvement are pleasing to the eye. These buildings add beauty. These buildings reflect the successful development of Azerbaijan.

Dear friends, my congratulations on this wonderful event! I wish all the people of Ujar good health and further successes.

Thank you.