Ilham Aliyev met with representatives of the public in Mingachevir city

After the opening of the Kura Olympic sports training center, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with representatives of the public in Mingachevir city.

Addressing the people of Mingachevir, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Let me heartily congratulate you on the opening of this beautiful Olympic sports center Kura. You know that this center has a long history. In the 1970s, a lot of improvement work was carried out here on the initiative of great leader Heydar Aliyev. Mingachevir became the center of rowing in the Soviet Union. The people of Mingachevir remember those years very well because various competitions were held here. Rowers from all union republics were coming to Mingachevir. In other words, this base was very important for the development of the city.

However, we could not use this base effectively between the late 1980s and 1990s. The base accommodated our citizens driven out of their lands as a result of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan. In the 1990s, I repeatedly visited Mingachevir to get acquainted with the situation. As President of the National Olympic Committee, I was anxious to restore these places and create a high-level base here. But our opportunities were limited at the time. Our priority was to resettle our compatriots who were living here then. We succeeded in doing that and provided them with good conditions. Then design work was carried out.

Finally, construction of the base began three years ago, and today it is a world-class sports and tourism center. I have got acquainted with all the facilities here. Although I have repeatedly been here, I can see that the base meets the highest standards. There is a beautiful hotel, gyms, a swimming pool, all the necessary equipment for rowing. It is both a sports and tourism center now. I do hope that our sportsmen will take advantage of these opportunities. We also look forward to seeing foreign visitors here. Mingachevir must become an international travel destination. There are all the possibilities to do that: beautiful nature, clean air, climate, natural conditions. Roads are being built too. A road which will connect Baku with Mingachevir is under construction. The Ganja airport is operating. Therefore, Mingachevir must become a tourism center.

Tourism centers are being established in various parts of Azerbaijan. Each of them has its own natural conditions. Our beautiful sea, mountains, rivers, springs, as well as such hotels being established in different districts, further accelerate this process. All conditions have been created, especially for sports. Rowing is experiencing a period of development in Azerbaijan. Our rowers are already showing good results in world and European championships, win first places in world championships. This never happened in the history of Azerbaijan before.

The work done in rowing in recent years and the watershed it has brought about allow Azerbaijan to hold leading positions in the sport. Our team, youth and juniors are taking part in various competitions. Azerbaijan is already a sporting country, everybody knows that. However, rowing in Azerbaijan was not sufficiently developed in Soviet times. Today we can see it developing. It is not only the infrastructure, but also the professionalism of athletes that is improving. Coaches have been invited from overseas. I am confident that our rowers will represent Azerbaijan at the upcoming Olympic Games with dignity.

As for the development of sport in general, sport in Azerbaijan is developing very rapidly. We were able to make great strides in this area. Our national flag is raised at the Olympics, World and European championships in honor of our athletes. It makes us feel very proud. I want all sports to develop in Azerbaijan, and we can already see these achievements.

I am very glad that our football players have finally, after a long break, pleased us. We believed in them. Our team is young and shows very great perseverance. Certainly, more work is needed to improve professionalism. But we can already see that and are happy that our national team and clubs show a decent game in international competitions. I am sure that the victory of two days ago will inspire us even more. I am confident that football in Azerbaijan will also reach great heights. To do this, we need time and patience. I am confident that after a few years, our football players will make fans happy in every game.

In short, Azerbaijan holds leading positions in the world in the field of sport. Our young athletes, teenagers, children are showing good results. At the recent first Youth Olympics in Singapore, Azerbaijan was among the developed countries, reached the top ten. This is a historic victory. It suggests that our athletes are showing good results from childhood. This is made possible by the infrastructure created in the country, Olympic facilities and gyms in every district, the care and attention to sport demonstrated by the state. The efforts of those dealing with sport, athletes, agencies responsible for sport – the Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, federations, clubs, sports associations – serve the same purpose.

Today, at the opening of this beautiful tourism and sports center, I was once again convinced that Azerbaijan has great possibilities and potential. You and me remember these places too well. What were they like before?! And look at these beautiful parks and alleys now. Look how much prettier Mingachevir has become! I visited Mingachevir last year and in previous years, before 2003. The city has fully modernized, become nicer, great creative work, landscaping is under way, parks and alleys are being established, buildings renovated. Mingachevir has become a modern and beautiful city, which pleases me a lot. I want every city of Azerbaijan to be beautiful. I repeat, Mingachevir has great air and climatic conditions, but at the same time industrial enterprises are being set up here. Mingachevir is not only the city of energy workers, it is also an industrial city, a center of culture. A chess school, social facilities, schools have been established here, a road is being built. All this will serve the city's development.

I want to congratulate you, those living here, on these successes. I wish you further successes. I want to indicate that I will continue to pay serious attention to Mingachevir. Further measures will be taken to develop the city. Congratulations again!

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Mingachevir resident Eyub Hasanov pointed to the contribution of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev to the development of Mingachevir. On behalf of the city residents, he thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the attention and care.

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The head of state also met with sportsmen and the head coach of the Rowing and Canoeing Federation, Rudiger Hauffe.

First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva had a picture taken with residents of Mingachevir.

President Ilham Aliyev and his wife also had their picture taken with participants of the ceremony.