Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Center in Lankaran after reconstruction

As part of a visit to Lankaran, President Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Center after reconstruction.

The President was informed that prior to the reconstruction the total area of the Center was 300 square meters. At present, the total area of the building is 3,000 square meters. The two-storey building has elegant interior design.

There is a bust of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev in the museum of the Center, which is located in the Heydar Aliyev memorial park. The museum has a collection of interesting documents and photographs relating to different periods of life and political activities of the outstanding statesman. Photographs relating to the childhood and student years of great leader Heydar Aliyev and his service in national security bodies are also exhibited.

The pictures show that the nationwide leader devoted his entire life to the development of his country and led it along the path of progress both during his leadership of Azerbaijan in the Soviet era and in the years of independence. The visits of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev to Lankaran at different periods of his leadership in Azerbaijan contributed further to progress in the district and went down in the history of the district as a new stage in its development.

Also on display are photographs reflecting the attention the nationwide leader has paid to army building, as well as pictures taken during the visits of President Ilham Aliyev to Lankaran.

There is also a cinema equipped with 3D facilities, an electronic library, an internet club, a café, a language classroom, an art studio, a photo studio, an exhibition hall, a chess room, a room for intellectual games and a virtual classroom at the center.

The museum’s ad hoc research group has collected photographs, newspapers and documents relating to the visits of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev to Lankaran in 1973-1998. There are audio records of people’s recollections about their meetings with great leader Heydar Aliyev during these visits.

The center’s assembly and conference halls for 300 and 80 people respectively are fully equipped for hosting various activities, significant events and dates in the public, political and cultural life of the district. The halls are equipped with a modern sound system.

After reviewing the Heydar Aliyev Center, President Ilham Aliyev met with representatives of the public.

The principal of a foreign languages school, Mansur Agayev, thanked the head of state for the care and attention on behalf of the district public.

Saluting representatives of the district public, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- We are celebrating the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Center after reconstruction. It is a beautiful center, a beautiful building, the appearance of the center is also very nice.

I am meeting with you again today. I am very happy about it. This is my eighth visit to Lankaran as President. In 8 years I have come here for the eighth time and am very happy that things are going well in Lankaran. The district is developing, the city is becoming prettier and improving, beautiful buildings are constructed. This beautiful center is very valuable from both architectural and functional points of view, it is a sign of respect for the memory of the great leader.

When celebrating the 20th anniversary of the restoration of our independence last year, in hindsight, we were further convinced that the great leader made an exceptional contribution to the formation of the Azerbaijani statehood. Heydar Aliyev assumed leadership in the country at the most difficult period and managed to save our people from great woes, lay the foundations of statehood and facilitate the current realities. Because all of the initiatives he put forward were aimed at the development of our country. Our country has secured a rightful place in the international arena, domestic processes have been going in a positive direction, reforms have been carried out, great progress has been made. We are all committed to the political course of the great leader and are continuing it. The work done in Lankaran in recent years is a good example of this policy, is a manifestation of it.

I am very glad that things are going well in Lankaran – both in the city and villages. Further measures will be taken. A new order will be signed on the socioeconomic development of Lankaran and more funds allocated to speed up the work. As you know, due to the commissioning of several facilities here in recent years, development has been even faster.

The Lankaran airport has been renovated. I arrived in Lankaran by plane today. International flights are arranged too. I am sure there will be more such flights in the future. Lankaran has beautiful nature, a wonderful climate and travel opportunities. The agenda of my visit includes a groundbreaking ceremony of a new hotel. I hope that tourism will grow even faster in the coming years.

We are currently developing domestic tourism. I know that people are coming to Lankaran for rest from Baku and elsewhere in Azerbaijan. But I also want people to come from abroad, to get to know Lankaran and rest here. So there is a great tourism potential. We simply need to enhance it further by implementing infrastructure projects.

The construction of the Baku-Astara trunk road is ongoing. This road will pass via Lankaran. I do hope that the highway meeting the latest standards will be commissioned at the end of next year, which will make it even more comfortable to drive here.

Orders have been signed on the construction of rural roads. Last month we allocated funds for the construction of rural roads linking 20 settlements with a population of 40,000 people. I am sure the construction will begin soon and the road will be put into operation.

The head of the Executive Authority and MPs have raised the issue of building more rural roads. We will consider that.

The central district hospital is not in very good condition. We will consider this issue too. As you know, a Medical and Diagnostic Center has been built in Lankaran. It provides qualified services to people. But it is also necessary to renovate the central district hospital. Of course, this issue will also be resolved.

There are still schools in poor condition in Lankaran and elsewhere. Although more than 2,000 schools were built in recent years, there are still schools that are in poor condition. We will try to restore all the schools that are in poor condition by the end of next year.

Other infrastructure projects are consistently implemented in Lankaran. We first resolved the electricity problem. The commissioning of a modular power station in Astara has significantly improved energy supply of the entire southern zone. We can say that there is no problem now.

Gasification was carried out at the next stage. Now this process has assumed wide proportions. I set the task of gasifying all of Lankaran’s settlements by the end of next year. The city has gas supply, the process continues, so this issue will also be resolved.

Another problem worrying people is drinking water. But we are working on it. Again, we set the task of resolving the problem of water supply and sewage in Lankaran by the end of next year. Surrounding villages will also benefit from the program. At a later stage, we should resolve the water and sewage problems of other villages. A mere enumeration of these major infrastructure projects shows how much is being done.

I am even not talking about the support for private enterprise development and the initiatives to improve the business environment. If we analyze all this, we can see the dynamic development of Azerbaijan in the example of Lankaran. This development manifests itself everywhere, in every region. The implementation of the state program on the socioeconomic development of the districts has become the main mechanism for addressing these problems. I am very pleased that the program is well under way. The second state program will be completed by the end of next year. But we also have plans for a subsequent period. I have already expressed my views about that. A new state program is already being prepared, it will cover 2014-2023.

As a result of the first programs we will resolve the key infrastructure and social issues.

The next 10-year program will reflect our vision for the future because we have to develop Azerbaijan even more in the next 10 years. Our main goals have been met. But life goes on and new challenges emerge. We need to double our economic strength over the next decade. Over the past eight years our economy has grown three-fold. And in the next 10 years it must further double. As a result of this program, Azerbaijan will become a high-income country. Thus, the well-being of our people will further improve, our country will be strengthened, our positions in the world will become even stronger.

Besides global issues, i.e. while implementing our initiatives both in foreign and energy policies, we are addressing the problems of each village. I think this is a unique experience in the world because we only achieve success in every direction. We are a member of the world’s most authoritative international organization. The UN Security Council consists of 15 members, of which five are permanent and 10 are elected. Azerbaijan is one of these 10 countries because 155 countries have believed in us, supported us and gave us their vote.

Our energy policy determines the energy policy not only of the region but also of the continent.

We have achieved this by hard work. In the coming years, as a result of more initiatives in this field, our positions in the world will become even stronger, our economic interests will be fully secured. There is a specific program on every direction, steps are taken. But, I repeat, along with all these global issues, the internal situation, people's livelihoods, infrastructure projects, issues of education and health are a priority.

I want to say again that the successful development of Lankaran reflects the overall development of our country. In the coming years we must achieve more rapid development to make Lankaran city and district even more beautiful and comfortable and people’s lives better.

I warmly salute you again and wish you continued success.

X X X

Thank you. You have raised very important issues. Indeed, social issues are a priority for us, and the experience of recent months and years shows this. The implementation of social programs requires, above all, the will and economic power. We have both the will and the economic potential. We have created this economic power ourselves. Because 20 years ago, in the early years of independence, we had practically no economy, no industry. The enterprises left over from Soviet times did not function, there was massive unemployment and hopelessness. There was also a political and military crisis, occupation of our lands, civil war – we were going to die. The resolute steps of the great leader saved us from those evils and the subsequent economic reform, our energy policy, the oil and gas pipelines have given us great economic support.

Then, by developing other economic sectors, we managed to diversify our economy. For example, in the first six months of this year our non-oil sector grew by more than 11 per cent. This is the highest indicator in the world. So this provided us with additional material resources to address infrastructure and social issues.

Along with this, there is a strong will. The repayment of deposits, the raising of benefits, wages and pensions even in the crisis years are based precisely on this strong will. Also, deposits in Azerbaijan are repaid at the highest interest rate and in the shortest time among all former Soviet republics. We will complete the program by the end of 2013. Most FSU countries have started this process but no-one knows when it will end. Everything is done according to plan in Azerbaijan, instructions are given, decisions made and implemented. Social issues will always be in the spotlight. Salaries and pensions must and will be constantly raised. A program of targeted social assistance and other social programs are ongoing. We will continue to do so because our financial resources will grow every year. As for political will, it will also grow every year.

Therefore, I am convinced that we will have many more meetings, opening ceremonies and events in Lankaran. The foundation of a hotel and a youth center will be laid today. This is also quite symbolic. Youth is our future. We are implementing the state program “Azerbaijani Youth”, have established the Youth Fund. The Youth Fund has received 5 million manats from the Contingency Fund of the President so that we could attract young people to important national projects, encourage it, provide grants and funds for various projects. The foundation of a hotel is to be laid. I am sure that in a year or two it will be a great tourist center.

So there will be many more meetings and things to do. We are pacing forward with confidence and our future is clear. I am sure that there is only success lying ahead of us. I wish you further success. Thank you.

Х Х Х

Then a picture was taken.

In conclusion, a picture was taken.