President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have visited Aghali village, Zangilan district.

The President and the First Lady met with students and teaching staff of Aghali village secondary school and the village residents.

Welcoming the pupils studying at Aghali village school, President Ilham Aliyev said:

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello kids.

Children: Hello.

President Ilham Aliyev: Why don’t you show me the school? Come on, let's go!

Mehriban Aliyeva: They are standing here. Shall we take a picture first?

President Ilham Aliyev: Let's take a picture in front of the school.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Let's take a picture.

President Ilham Aliyev: Or have you been arranged like this by government officials?

Male resident: Come on, kids. The taller ones should go a little behind and the rest of the kids should come forward.

A picture is taken.

Male resident: Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Let's go now. Show us your school. Let's see how the children study here? Let's have a look at the classrooms. Which grade are you in?

Pupil 1: I am in sixth grade.

President Ilham Aliyev: Where did you study before?

Pupil 1: I went to Sumgayit secondary school No. 30.

President Ilham Aliyev: Sumgayit. And you?

Pupil 2: So did I, in Sumgayit.

President Ilham Aliyev: Also in Sumgayit. How about you?

Pupil 3: I also went to school in Sumgayit, school No. 15.

President Ilham Aliyev: Sumgayit.

Pupil 4: I went to secondary school No. 181 in Mardakan.

President Ilham Aliyev: What about now? Do you like the Aghali village?

Schoolchildren: Yes.

President Ilham Aliyev: Very good. Do children enjoy studying?

Female teacher: Certainly, they are very enthusiastic. In general, when they came to school and saw this place, believe me, they experienced so many wonderful feelings. They were happy that they will study in such a nice school.

President Ilham Aliyev: Children have come to their ancestral land. You can see how beautiful your native land, your homeland and the village of Aghali is.

Mehriban Aliyeva: I asked them if it is more beautiful than Sumgayit and they said yes.

President Ilham Aliyev: Sumgayit is also a beautiful city, a big city. But this place, of course, has a special beauty, nature, weather, and climate.

Pupil: This place is better than Sumgayit. The weather here is more beautiful.

President Ilham Aliyev: So we have brought you back here, the air here is clean, the nature is beautiful, there are mountains and forests everywhere. Life will be recovered here. After a while, houses will be built in other villages, houses will be built in the city of Zangilan. Aghali is the first project, and you are the first children to come to the liberated lands. I am glad that you have come with great enthusiasm. Your parents also came here with great enthusiasm. Because most of the parents had probably never seen Aghali before. They were also born during the occupation but the land attracts people. Your presence here shows that we will soon restore all the liberated lands and the former IDPs still living in Sumgayit, Baku and other places will return to their ancestral lands, build, live and raise their children here.

Pupils: Inshallah hope so.

President Ilham Aliyev: You should do well at school. Because good education is necessary not only for you but also for our country. Children like you will be in charge of our country in the future. This is why you should be knowledgeable, educated and always patriotic. Every citizen of Azerbaijan has the right to be a patriot. We have returned to these lands after shedding blood. Our heroic martyrs sacrificed their lives so that you and hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis like you could return to their ancestral land. Tomorrow is the second anniversary of the liberation of Zangilan, the city of Zangilan. Time flies, but great construction work is already underway. Your main task is to study well, listen to your parents and teachers, and become good citizens in the future.

Mehriban Aliyeva: What do you do after classes? The weather is good here. You probably like playing outside and meet with your friends. You also probably stay in touch with your friends from school in Sumgayit. You can also invite them once in a while. Let them come and see you here. Things are going on here. Where are your houses? Can you see them from here?

Pupil: Yes, our house is visible. It has two floors.

Mehriban Aliyeva: The two-story one over there?

Pupil: Yes.

President Ilham Aliyev: Aren't you bored?

Schoolchildren: No.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Beautiful girls.

Schoolgirl: You are more beautiful. I still can't believe I am meeting with you, I am so excited.

Mehriban Aliyeva: It was my dream to be in such a beautiful place of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation together with such beautiful girls.

Schoolgirl: I can say that most of the photos in my gallery are yours.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Is that right? Do you take pictures?

Schoolgirl: Not usually, but once in a while.

Mehriban Aliyeva: You like watching?

Schoolgirl: Yes.

Mehriban Aliyeva: I will try to come and see you more often, Inshallah.

Schoolgirl: Inshallah.

President Ilham Aliyev: Let's go and see the village center. What is like there? How do we go to the center? From there?

Mehriban Aliyeva: Come and show.

President Ilham Aliyev: What is life here like? Everything is alright?

Female resident: Thank you very much, it is very good thanks to you. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thanks to you, wonderful conditions have been created for the residents of Aghali. Thank you very much. Always be there for us.

President Ilham Aliyev: It is very good that they have returned and are still returning. I can see the kids are also very excited and happy to live here. We last came here in May. Have many people returned since?

Female resident: Yes, 60 families live here now.

President Ilham Aliyev: Sixty families. People are probably still returning.

Female resident: Yes.

President Ilham Aliyev: There are probably many empty houses?

Girls: Yes, yes.

President Ilham Aliyev: Is there anyone else in the neighborhood?

Girl: Yes.

President Ilham Aliyev: Let's go to the village center. How is employment? Are issues being addressed?

Female resident: Yes, thank God, everything is being addressed in time.

President Ilham Aliyev: Have the returnees been provided with jobs here?

Female resident: Yes, Mr. President, at “Kapital Bank” and “ASAN service”.

President Ilham Aliyev: Do they work there?

Female resident: Yes. There is also “Gil MED” hospital. It is beautiful and very impressive.

President Ilham Aliyev: Visitors also come here, from foreign countries.

Female resident: Foreign visitors come here as well, yes. We have had visitors from leading countries of the world. They were filming here. This makes us happy too.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, I know. They also see that we have already returned.

Female resident: Our village is beautiful, thank you very much. Every resident says “Long live of our President”.

President Ilham Aliyev: All our cities and villages should be like this, Inshallah.

Female resident: Inshallah, thanks to you. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

President Ilham Aliyev: You know, this is the first project, and more are in the pipeline.

Another female resident: Welcome, Mr. President.

President Ilham Aliyev: Great to see you. How are you?

Female resident: I am lucky to have the chance to meet you. Since 1990, my three children have become martyrs.

President Ilham Aliyev: May Allah rest their souls in peace.

Female resident: I used to work as a teacher in Zangilan, and so did my husband. We have a lot of respect for you all.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.

Female resident: May Allah rest the soul of our Great Leader in peace and bless you. You have created these conditions for us. We have come here and are breathing this air, thank you very much. Long live our Army.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Female resident: May Allah protect our Army! May Allah have mercy on our martyrs and grant recovery to our ghazis. We are so lucky to meet with you.

President Ilham Aliyev: May Allah rest their souls in peace, Amen. Thank you. How is your life here? How are the conditions? Are they good?

Female resident: Good, great. In fact, I haven't received a house yet.

President Ilham Aliyev: Don't you have a house yet?

Female resident: They gave me a house in Sumgayit, so I am still there. Now they are saying that we will give you a house here when it is your turn.

President Ilham Aliyev: Are you from Aghali?

Female resident: Yes, I worked as a teacher in Aghali.

President Ilham Aliyev: Then you must have a house.

Female resident: Thank you very much, may Allah bless you. Most of them are my students.

President Ilham Aliyev: Have you got a house yet?

Another female resident: We have been given a two-story house.

President Ilham Aliyev: How is it? Are you happy?

Female resident: We are very pleased. Everything is fine. Everything is in order.

President Ilham Aliyev: Very good, the children are also pleased. I asked if the kids are happy and they said yes. They do not want to return to Sumgayit.

Female resident: I had a problem with my before but I can walk again here. Thank goodness – the air and the water here are great.

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, they are great. Air, water and everything else in the native land is great.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Everything is beautiful here.

Female resident: You are also the most beautiful. May Allah be pleased with you.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.

Female resident: Mehriban khanim, how are you? Welcome to our village.

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello.

Male resident: Mr. President, someone wants to meet you, is it possible?

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello, how are you?

Male resident: We are proud of you, Mr. President. We are proud of your successful policy. May Allah protect you.

President Ilham Aliyev: How do you live?

Male resident: We live well. May Allah protect you. May Allah always have you there for us.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Male resident: May Allah rest the soul of our National Leader Heydar Aliyev in peace and protect you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. Where did you live before?

Male resident: I used to live in Aghjabadi district. I work here.

President Ilham Aliyev: Are you from this village?

Male resident: No, I am from Aghjabadi district.

President Ilham Aliyev: What do you do here?

Male resident: I am currently a waiter at “Khan Chinar”. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to experience such days. Thank you, Mr. President.

President Ilham Aliyev: Very good, thank you.

Female resident: Hello, welcome, Mr. Commander-in-Chief. I want to thank you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello, yes, we met with you.

Female resident: As I promised you in our last meeting, I serve our citizens here as a lawyer. Yes, I have now passed the first stage of selection for the prosecutor's office. I am preparing for the next stage. Inshallah, it will work out well.

President Ilham Aliyev: Very good.

Ladies: Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Do you work at the medical center?

Female resident: I work in the office building.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, you are wearing the uniform.

Female resident: Can I take a picture with you?

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, we have a picture, but of course you can.

Female resident: Thank you very much. I appreciate it, thanks.

President Ilham Aliyev: Do you work or live here?

Male resident: We live here.

President Ilham Aliyev: You live here. Did they give you a house?

Male resident: Yes, with a land plot.

President Ilham Aliyev: Are you pleased?

Male resident: Thank you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Did you live here back then?

Male resident: Yes.

President Ilham Aliyev: Where did you live afterwards?

Male resident: We lived in Baku.

President Ilham Aliyev: How did you react when you were told that you could go to Aghali? Were you excited?

Male resident: We left this place with tears of blood and we are returning with tears of joy. We are grateful for everything.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank God.

Male resident: May Allah bless you.

Residents: Can we take a picture.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, let's take a picture.

Male resident: Thank God. God granted us this day. We have seen this day.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank God.

Male resident: May Allah bless you, may Allah help you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Where did you live?

Male resident: Right in this village.

President Ilham Aliyev: Where did you live during the occupation?

Male resident: I was in the army during the occupation. I was at war. I was discharged in 1996 and lived in Baku.

President Ilham Aliyev: You lived in Baku.

Male resident: Yes, I lived in Baku. Thank God, we were so longing for this place, we were praying for this place so much. Thank God.

Female resident: We missed it very much. Thanks to our President, we live in very good conditions in our lands.

Another female resident: We are grateful to God for sending you to us.

Male resident: We couldn't even dream of all this. It is very nice. May Allah help you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, I was always saying that we would definitely return here. I was saying that we would return to our lands. We will return either by peace or by war, and we have returned. We are living here now. Your return also shows that all the former IDPs will return to their native lands. Some thought that it has been 30 years now and no-one will return. But look, you are back.

Male resident: We dreamed of this place.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, these places are even more beautiful than before.

Female resident: It is very nice here now. May Allah bless you.

Another female resident: We have now adapted to modern conditions. Thank you very much. May Allah bless you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, the conditions are also good. All services are available now.

Female resident: Can we take a picture with you?

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, of course!

Another female resident: We are meeting you for the second time. We are proud of our wonderful President.

Female resident: Both my son and my husband served here.

President Ilham Aliyev: Were they in the military?

Woman: My son has been a soldier for 10 years. He was wounded in Jabrayil. Thanks to you, we have a home here. We are very grateful.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. Live happily here.

Another woman: Dear President, would you allow me to take a picture with you?

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, please do. Thank you!

Male resident: Hello. How are you?

Female resident: We are very glad to see you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello, it is great to see you. What a cute baby. How old is he?

Female resident: Ten months. As the first local inhabitant, he says welcome. Can we take a picture?

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, let's take it. This is the future.

Another female resident: Yes. Thanks to you. Thank you very much. We appreciate everything. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for taking care of us so well. You have created such conditions for us.

President Ilham Aliyev: When this child grows up, you will tell him what kind of suffering you went through.

Another female resident: Absolutely. He will save your picture. This is my child and we are proud of you. Thank you very much, Mr. President, thank you!

President Ilham Aliyev: He will grow up on his native land.

Female resident: Yes, it is true.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Another female resident: My son has been working here since the foundation of Yeni Aghali was laid.

President Ilham Aliyev: Did he work in construction?

Woman: Yes.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. What is the situation like here? Is it good?

Male resident: It is great.

Female teacher: Mr. President, can the team of teachers take a picture with you?

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course. Are they teachers? I thought they were pupils. They are young teachers. Let's stand here? Are the teachers also from Aghali?

Female teachers: Yes, thank you. Thank you very much!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you!

Female resident: You are welcome!

President Ilham Aliyev: Good to see you!

Female resident: We are always happy to welcome you.

President Ilham Aliyev: What is life like here?

Female resident: Thank you, it is very good.

President Ilham Aliyev: Do you work?

Female resident: Yes, I work here.

President Ilham Aliyev: What do you do? Are you in a cafe?

Female resident: Yes, may Allah help you.

President Ilham Aliyev: How are things? Is everything good?

Female resident: Yes, thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Male resident: Mr. President, if you would allow me…

President Ilham Aliyev: What do you cook at “Khan Chinar”? What did you cook today?

Male resident: It is lamb today.

President Ilham Aliyev: Lamb? Yes, that’s great? Very nice. Where does food come from?

Male resident: The food comes from here, from the district itself.

President Ilham Aliyev: Does it come from the district?

Male resident: It is all local produce.

President Ilham Aliyev: Are there many customers?

Male Resident: Yes.

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course., it is all natural.

Male resident: Thank you very much. May Allah grant you a long life.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. Stay safe.

Residents: Thank you.

Young girl: Can I take a picture with you?

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course!

Local lady: I took a picture earlier but it came out dark.

President Ilham Aliyev: You have taken a picture, but come on, we will take another.

Male resident: Mr. President, welcome to our native land.

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello, it is nice to see you.

Male Resident: Dear Mr. President, Honorable Commander-in-Chief. You have written the battle history of the Azerbaijani people. We are proud of you. Dear Mr. President, first of all, I would like to thank you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.

Male resident: I want to thank you on behalf of those disabled of the Patriotic War.

President Ilham Aliyev: How old are you?

Male resident: I am 76 years old.

President Ilham Aliyev: Did you live here in Aghali?

Male resident: Yes, in this village. I was in a leading position in this village.

President Ilham Aliyev: In a leading position here in the village?

Male resident: In 1977, the late Great Leader Heydar Aliyev received me. He confirmed my appointment to the position of chairman of the collective farm.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, chairman of the collective farm. When you were told that you can return to Aghali, you were probably excited.

Male resident: I was very excited.

President Ilham Aliyev: How do you find Aghali today? Do you like New Aghali?

Male resident: New Aghali is a city.

Female resident: It is very nice – thanks to you.

Male Resident: Thanks to you. I bow to the memory of martyrs, to ghazis and to the mothers of martyrs. We are grateful to them. Let me say one more thing but don't laugh at me. Tell the chairman of the election commission, Mazahir Panahov, not to spoil paper. Our President has been elected forever.

President Ilham Aliyev: You can tell him that yourself.

Male resident: I can't find him.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.

Male resident: Can I have a picture?

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, come on.

Residents: Thank you very much.

Child: Mr. President, can I take a picture with you?

President Ilham Aliyev: There are three to four generations of natives of Aghali here. You, little kids, young people, come, all of you, come here alongside the elder.

Residents: Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. I am sure you will live happily here. May Allah grant you good health and a long life.

Resident: Mr. President, may I?

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, come on.

Female resident: Hello, you are always welcome here.

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello, thank you very much.

Female resident: May Allah bless you and grant you good health. Do you mind having a picture taken with our team?

President Ilham Aliyev: Certainly not, come on too.

Male resident: Thank you very much, Mr. President.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Child: A serviceman.

President Ilham Aliyev: A heroic Azerbaijani soldier.

Child: We must protect our Motherland.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, this is right.

Another child: I want to be a doctor.

President Ilham Aliyev: How about you?

Schoolgirl: A serviceman.

President Ilham Aliyev: Do you also want to be a serviceman? Good for you!

Male resident: Mr. President, I have a word for you. I have wanted to tell you this for a long time. You are the first President of the world.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Male resident: I am saying this from my heart. I am very grateful to you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. Thank you very much. I was also asking the kids what they want to be when they grow up. They say they want to be servicemen. This girl also says she wants to be a soldier. They want to protect the homeland. Please ask them to come up. Let's take a picture because we have to go now. We took many pictures in front of the school. Come on, young lady, stand here. We have taken a lot of pictures. All of them will be available online. Let's go.

Female resident: No-one wants to leave here.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, we will visit you often.

Women: Inshallah. We will always wait for you.

President Ilham Aliyev: We will come again, soldiers, thank you.

Female resident: Can we take a picture with you?

President Ilham Aliyev: We took one.

Female resident: With me.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, let's take it one more time.

Female resident: Thank you very much, May Allah protect you.

Child: Mr. President, my father is a soldier.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes? Say hello to him. Say to him that the President says hello.

Another child: My father is also a soldier.

President Ilham Aliyev: What is his rank?

Child: He is a major.

President Ilham Aliyev: Say hello to him too. Say that I am proud of all the soldiers.

Female resident: Thank you, Mr. President, we are really proud of you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. Stay safe. It was also there on Mehriban's phone. She also wanted to take pictures.

Female resident: Thank you very much. May Allah protect you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Mehriban is a cameraman for us. Thank you, stay safe and live happily here.