Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Center in Lankaran after reconstruction

- 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.