To the participants of the Seventh Forum on Internet Governance in Baku

Dear Forum participants!

I am pleased to welcome you, the participants of the Seventh Forum on Internet Governance, held in Baku jointly by the UN and the Government of Azerbaijan.

Today, the Internet is not only a space of exchange of information, but also a medium covering state governance, education, health, business, banking and other sectors, an area creating new values.

Protection of human freedoms is one of the important activities of the modern Internet network. The development of online media, the freedom of opinion and expression on the Internet, the expansion of social networks, open and transparent government activities, civic engagement in governance processes represent new opportunities offered by the global network.

Azerbaijan pays special attention to the development of information and communication technologies and the Internet.

Approximately 65 per cent of our population are Internet users. Our country already uses the latest 4G technology.

It is commendable that there is freedom of the Internet in Azerbaijan. Internet radio and TV, online newspapers and magazines, foreign and internal social networks are widespread in our country. Thousands of bloggers are engaged in free activities in the online environment in Azerbaijan.

We support any well-intentioned internet activities aimed at establishing friendly relations between people and nations, building an equal relationship based on mutual respect.

I wish the Forum every success. I am sure that this Forum will contribute to global development.

Ilham Aliyev
President of Azerbaijan Republic

Baku, 5 November 2012.