President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of a new residential complex for families of martyrs and war disabled in Sabunchu district, Baku.
Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Sahil Babayev informed the President and the First Lady of the new residential complex.
It was noted that the new residential complex, consisting of 12 nine-story buildings and 576 apartments, was constructed on 2.76 hectares. The buildings in the complex have a total of 36 one-room, 144 two-room, 360 three-room and 36 four-room apartments.
A 100-seat kindergarten and an office building are available in the complex. Necessary conditions are created for residents and their children, and the complex has been provided with all the necessary infrastructure.
It is no coincidence that the families of martyrs and disabled veterans of the war were presented with 200 apartments and 50 cars on the occasion of Ramadan. Humanism, special attention to families in need of social care and commitment to Islamic values are essential components of the concept of governance of the President of Azerbaijan.
The political will and consistent, practical steps taken to address social issues give grounds to say that Azerbaijan has developed a socially-oriented model of the state. Even reforms arising from changes in the global market, supply and demand, and new challenges are compensated by social measures. In other words, a system of comprehensive measures to strengthen the market economy serves the interests of the relatively vulnerable segments of the population. This policy has been prevalent in the post-war period. The social support package implemented on the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev during the post-war period covered 100,000 people and included a total of 166,000 services.
Over this period, 103,000 social payments were made to 93,000 people, including family members of martyrs and war veterans. The housing program has been expanded five times, as 3,000 apartments were handed out in 2021 and 3,500 in the post-war period. Twelve thousand five hundred families of martyrs and disabled veterans have been provided with apartments and houses, while 7,400 disabled veterans received cars.
A total of 200 servicemen of the Patriotic War and 300 disabled veterans received the latest generation prostheses, and 1400 disabled veterans received 17,000 rehabilitation aids. Five thousand families received social and psychological services, 1,500 people with rehabilitation services, and 11,000 have been involved in employment programs. Services have been provided to a total of 30,000 people.
President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva viewed the conditions created at the kindergarten in the complex.
Then the President and the First Lady visited the family of martyr Mahir Mammadov, who was awarded medals "For the Liberation of Fuzuli," "For the Motherland," and "Courageous Warrior" for his valor and bravery in the Patriotic War.
Speaking to the martyr's family members, President Ilham Aliyev said:
- First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the occasion of Ramadan. This holiday, we are celebrating the opening of a new township in Baku. Both martyr families and disabled veterans of the war will live here. May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace! May Allah rest the soul of your son in peace! It is a great tragedy, a grave loss. You have lost your son, you have lost your husband, and you have lost your brother. I know that Mahir was a hero. He also took part in the April battles. The state awarded him three medals for his extraordinary heroism in the Patriotic War. It is a tremendous loss and an incurable wound, as everyone understands. But the only consolation may be that he sacrificed his life for the Motherland. Thanks to his heroism and our sons like him, we ended the occupation of our lands.
We had martyrs in the first Karabakh war, and about 4,000 people are still missing; apparently, they have died. We had more than 15,000 martyrs in total. Despite this, our lands were also lost. But we had fewer martyrs in the Second Karabakh War. Of course, the life of every martyr is irreplaceable. However, one of the essential requirements of our operations during the war was that our losses should be minimal and return of our lands should be secured.
Of course, the memory of each martyr lives and will live on forever in the hearts of their families and the entire Azerbaijani people. Last year, on 27 September, the Day of Remembrance, we conducted the Remembrance March, in a way, together with our martyrs, holding their photos. Then those pictures were handed over to their families. It can be the only consolation, and there can be no other consolation.
Of course, we are trying and will try to solve the day-to-day problems of all our martyrs. It is our duty. It is my duty as President and that of our state. The families of the martyrs of the First and Second Karabakh wars have been provided with more than 12,000 apartments. Again, this is our duty. The main consolation is that they have reached eternity, the peak of martyrdom. No one will live in this world forever. Sooner or later, we will all be reunited in eternal rest. Of course, to die at a young age is a great tragedy, but what can we say? The only consolation is that they fought and died for the Motherland. At the same time, they had been avenged. He passed away on 19 October. The city of Fuzuli had already been liberated from occupation. After that, his comrades continued their victorious march to the end, went on to plant our flag in Shusha, drove out the enemy and restored justice.
It is, of course, very hard for you. It is impossible to come to terms with this loss. Time will not heal this wound. But his memory and heroism will live on forever. Azerbaijani citizens, Azerbaijanis worldwide, are proud of our martyrs. They are a source of pride for us, and this will continue to be the case forever, for as long as the Azerbaijani people are there. We will remember them forever. Their heroism will never be erased from our memory, from the hearts of future generations. Martyrs do not die; we have repeatedly said this, and they are still with us because their memory lives on. Mahir's son lives. I am sure that he will grow up well worthy of his father. The fact that he is growing up to become a hero like his father can be a consolation for you.
In other words, he left behind his son, his young wife, his brother, and his mother. As you know, I had many meetings with the families of martyrs, veterans and wounded veterans after the war. Each meeting shows the greatness of our people yet again. It is an enormous tragedy to lose a son, a husband or a brother. However, this did not shake the resolve of our people. We will live forever as heroes and a victorious nation because of heroes like Mahir. I repeat – we must never forget the first Karabakh war. We must not forget the martyrs. Although they became martyrs, our lands were also lost at that time. This time, they became martyrs, but we returned the lands. That is the difference, and this can be some consolation. Of course, the wound of losing a dear one will never heal, but life will go on.
Now we have started the reconstruction of our lands. The image of our martyrs is eternally engraved on the liberated lands, on the new buildings being created, on houses, schools, and hospitals, on each stone. They died for this land; they held Motherland above anything else. I want to say again that Mahir showed true patriotism during the April battles and the Second Karabakh War. The main task for you now is to keep his memory alive and raise his child as a valuable citizen. This is also a vital issue for the state. The state does and will do its best to address the problems of martyr families. I wouldn't want to talk about it too much. It is our duty, and your life and wellbeing will always be in the spotlight for us.
Martyr Mahir's brother Habil Mammadov: Thank you very much, Mr. President, for visiting us on this holy day. You have always paid great attention and cared for the families of martyrs and wounded veterans of the war. Thank you very much on behalf of our family. Thank you very much for this beautiful apartment. Mrs. Aliyeva, thank you very much. May Allah be pleased with you.
First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva: How old is his son?
Martyr Mahir's mother Timziya Mammadova: You know, his son was born on 21 September, and the war broke out on the 27th.
First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva: He was born in September...
Timziya Mammadova: He never got to see his son; he is his first child. He got married a little late.
First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva: May Allah bless him. What is his name?
Timziya Mammadova: He was named after his grandfather – Salim. Thanks to you, our martyrs are rejoicing now that our lands have been taken.
President Ilham Aliyev: Their souls will always be rejoicing. It was the duty of all of us. We avenged his death on the battlefield, carried on to the end, and secured the Victory. When Mahir's son grows up, he will be proud of his father for the rest of his life. I am sure that the people of Azerbaijan will always take care of him and respect him because he is the son of a martyr.
Timziya Mammadova: He will be proud of his father, that's right.
Habil Mammadov: We often take him to his father's grave.
First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva: The names of all martyrs are written in Victory Park.
President Ilham Aliyev: Everyone's name is there. The Victory Museum will also be established. The Victory Park is located in one of the most magnificent places in Baku, perhaps the most magnificent one – right in front of the Seaside Boulevard. A large memorial will be built there. Work will begin soon. The names of all martyrs will be engraved there. The Museum of Victory and the Museum of Occupation will be established in all liberated cities. So the names of all our martyrs will live forever. They gave us that joy.
Timziya Mammadova: Mahir was a very good son too. He was in love with his job. He was a cartographer and loved his job. May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace.
President Ilham Aliyev: May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace.
Habil Mammadov: Mr. President, we are proud of you. It is good that our people and state have a President like you. May Allah grant you good health. Thank you very much for everything. Thank you very much for your attention and care.
President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.
Timziya Mammadova: On your instructions, the families of martyrs are looked after very well. Everything is fine, and we are not dissatisfied.
Habil Mammadov: They regularly enquire about us.
President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, I have instructed all government agencies to pay attention to the families of martyrs.
Timziya Mammadova: They do.
President Ilham Aliyev: In all matters, employment, domestic and any other problem that may arise in a person's life – all government officials, central and local executive bodies must always be together with the families of martyrs and provide assistance. It is our duty.
Our primary duty was to expel the Armenians from our lands, and our children, like Mahir, succeeded in doing that. Every government official now has to pay attention to the relatives of our martyrs, and there is full solidarity in society over this issue. Government agencies and everyone else are trying to help martyr families. Employment issues are essential. We also had many wounded veterans of the war. We had more than 10,000 wounded soldiers and officers. They are also in the process of recovery. Two hundred prostheses of the latest model have been arranged for them, returning them to everyday life. The state must and will do whatever it takes.
Habil Mammadov: The apartment is also beautiful, Mr. President.
Martyr Mahir's wife, Gunel Mammadova: Thank you very much for the apartment.
President Ilham Aliyev: It is good. It is a settlement. There is a kindergarten and a school nearby.
Habil Mammadov: The conditions are very good.
President Ilham Aliyev: You know, these houses were built for IDPs. During the occupation, enormous work was done to accommodate the IDPs, create normal conditions, and establish such beautiful townships. But after the war, I decided to provide the apartments reserved for them to the families of martyrs so that they could soon move into these apartments. I have to say that some martyr families of the first Karabakh war have not been provided with apartments yet. A total of 12,500 apartments have indeed been provided, but there are still people waiting in line. That is why I said that we have already started to build houses for the IDPs in Karabakh and Zangazur. They have to live there. Secondly, we should present these beautiful houses to the families of martyrs to address the problems of our wounded war veterans.
Three thousand apartments were provided last year, 1,500 more this year, and this process will continue. These apartments have all the conditions for living. All other issues related to employment must be addressed, and I know that you are working. Matters related to pensions. The families of martyrs should always be at the center of our attention so that there are no problems in your lives and the lives of other martyr families like yours. As President, I have ordered all government agencies to do so, and they are doing exactly that today. It is our duty.
Family members: Thank you very much, Mr. President.
President Ilham Aliyev: There is a beginning and an end to life. No one lives forever. But being a martyr means a tremendous service to the people, history, and future generations. Martyrs live forever; their mission and heroism are invaluable because they sacrificed their lives to liberate the lands and restore justice and restore our people's dignity. Our lands had been under occupation for 30 years, and our people went through moral suffering, all of us, including Mahir. It was the love of the Motherland that drove him forward. And he could not come to terms with this injustice. He sacrificed his life, and our sons like him restored the dignity of our people. It is a great victory that is an indispensable factor for the growth and education of our future generations. We have been living as a victorious people for a year and a half now. We used to be a people whose lands were occupied.
Timziya Mammadova: Our heads are high now.
President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, our heads are high, which will be the case forever. I want to say again that we are and will always be proud of Mahir and martyrs like him.
Habil Mammadov: Thank you, Mr. President.
President Ilham Aliyev: I do hope that the conditions created for you by the state can slightly reduce your pain.
Habil Mammadov: This is a consolation for us, Mr. President. It was very nice to meet you. Thank you very much for everything.
President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.
Family members: Thank you. Thank you very much.
