Speech by President Ilham Aliyev at the opening ceremony of the State Border Service Academy

Dear border guards,

I congratulate you sincerely on the occasion of the opening of the State Border Service Academy. I wish you every single success in your service in the name of the Motherland.

The establishment of the Academy is a great achievement and a remarkable event. The order on the creation of the Academy which I signed three years ago is already becoming reality today. Our future border guards will study in this beautiful, magnificent and great building. They will receive their education and increase professional qualifications here. All conditions have been created here for studying. There is state-of-the-art equipment in these beautifully constructed high-quality buildings. All conditions have been created here for people to receive education, live and rest. The Academy has been built with high-quality standards over a short period of time and is about to start operating. I have no doubt that the cadets studying at the Academy will obtain all the knowledge necessary for their future activities. We need knowledgeable and competent resources in all fields.

In general, particular attention is being paid to issues of education in Azerbaijan. This is a priority sector for us. Thousands of schools are being constructed, higher education institutions renovated, new universities and academies established. Education is our future. We want our youth to be competent, educated and patriotic. The establishment of the State Border Service Academy serves these goals.

The border is a symbol of any state. So is the flag, the national emblem and the anthem. The borders of Azerbaijan are protected properly. Great Leader Heydar Aliyev has made an exceptional contribution to the formation of the Border Service. After Azerbaijan regained its state independence, our borders were practically open. There was no border infrastructure, while the infrastructure created in previous years had been destroyed. We can say that there was no infrastructure on all our borders. Under the leadership of the nationwide leader, construction work was started at all our border checkpoints over a short period of time. Border protection infrastructure was set up, and this process is still successfully underway. According to an approved program, all construction work is nearing completion. Technical facilities have been duly installed on all our borders. There are detachments and garrisons. The Azerbaijani borders in all directions, both off- and onshore, are securely protected. We are paying particular attention to this issue. I have repeatedly been to all checkpoints, met with the contingent, studied the situation on the spot, and I can say with full confidence that our borders are protected at the necessary level.

The protection of our borders means our own security. All measures are being undertaken to ensure our security. We have to significantly strengthen our borders and we have managed to do that. Today, our Border Service is at the highest level from the standpoints of technical capabilities, engineering facilities and equipment. Consistent measures are being undertaken to upgrade and strengthen the material and technical resources of the Border Service. Equipment, arms and ammunition, hardware are being purchased, and we are not experiencing any problems with supplies. Necessary financial resources are allocated in order to carry out all the work in a due manner. I can see that the allocated funds are being spent in a very rational way. Practical work is being done to improve the living conditions of our border guards. Houses are under construction. Resorts and sports facilities are being established. All these are major steps aiming to develop the Border Service.

I am very delighted today that the State Border Service of Azerbaijan has managed to secure a worthy place in the world and achieved great successes in protecting Azerbaijani borders.

We must keep this issue in the focus in the future too, so that Azerbaijani borders are securely protected. In the future, of course, additional funds will be allocated to meet these goals, new technical capacities will be achieved.

In general, considerable work has been carried out to turn the Border Service into a modern institution. Today, Border Troops are a very capable and mobile military unit. One of the tasks set before the Border Service is to bolster the combat capability of Border Troops. To meet these goals, the process of purchasing arms, ammunition and military hardware is ongoing, and I can say that Border Troops, alongside our Armed Forces, stand ready for the restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan at any time. The military exercises being held for two consecutive years and the active participation of Border Troops in them are a graphic example of that.

We will restore our territorial integrity. To do that, all military units operate under a single command and act upon the orders of the Commander-in-Chief. At a necessary time, all military units will act like an iron fist and restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. This requires a strong economy and a powerful military potential. Azerbaijan is a country possessing a powerful economic and military potential.

We are doing the work underway in the country at a high level. Azerbaijan is becoming stronger and more powerful by the day. Our financial resources and military spending are increasing. Military expenditure holds the first place in our state budget. That is the way it should be because we are in a state of war. The war is not over yet, only its first stage is. There is a ceasefire, but the war is ongoing. We must be and we are ready to free our lands from occupiers.

I would like to reiterate that, first of all, this requires military power. We are building it up and have already done a lot, and this process is successfully continuing. In order to strengthen Azerbaijan’s military potential, we have mobilized all efforts and concentrated all financial resources to free our lands from occupiers. Today, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and military potential are allowing us the opportunity to do that. We simply want to resolve this issue through peace negotiations. Azerbaijan’s stance in the talks is becoming stronger. Our constructive position in the talks is already a reality, while the opposite side is simply trying to bide time and disrupt the talks. However, if talks are disrupted, the situation will change and a military solution of the issue emerge on the agenda.

We must ensure a comprehensive development of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has a great and bright future and a great present. Today, our country is experiencing a true renaissance. There is creative work, improvement and rapid development in all areas of life. Extensive work is underway in all our districts. Our beautiful Baku is becoming nicer and more comfortable. Our financial capacities are growing. Our oil policy is being successfully implemented, districts are being developed. In short, Azerbaijan’s progress and its sustainable development over the years to come are already a reality. We must defend our country and our independent policy.

Azerbaijan has achieved a lot as an independent country. We, as an independent country, are pursuing an independent policy, protecting the interests of the Azerbaijani people. The interests of the Azerbaijani people are of top priority. Today, Azerbaijan is a country enjoying tremendous respect worldwide. Azerbaijan is a reliable partner, a country playing an active role in regional processes. In all spheres and directions, we do our work in accordance with specific programs. There is development and progress in all directions.

The Border Service has a crucial role to play in protecting our country’s security. Our borders are open to our friends, but those who want to come to Azerbaijan with evil intentions will fail.

We remember the early 1990s too well. I would like to say again that there was no border infrastructure in Azerbaijan at the time. The acts of terror masterminded by Armenian terrorist organizations from abroad were shattering the Azerbaijani state. Why? Because we could not protect our borders then. Today, Azerbaijani borders are secure. This enables us to carry out work in the country in a due manner. The existing stability, political and public order and calm are our great achievements. We must and will protect this achievement. We will secure a prosperous future for the Azerbaijani people. We will take all measures to strengthen the Azerbaijani state.

I would like to point out again that the Border Service has contributed a lot to this. Our border troops are fighting and winning against those who want to violate our borders in different ways. I would like to congratulate State Border Service personnel on all this work. Congratulations again on the occasion of the opening of the Academy! I wish you further successes in your noble mission in the name of the Motherland. Thank you.