President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended a ceremony to supply water to Zagatala city.

The government of Azerbaijan is paying growing attention to social issues in order to improve the welfare of the people.

From this point of view, one of the important measures has been the improvement or reconstruction of water and sewage systems in the country.

First, the head of state met with the representatives of the Zagatala District public.

Congratulating them on this significant event, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Today we are celebrating the opening of a water supply project in Zagatala. I congratulate you! This will completely resolve the problem of water in Zagatala. As I have been informed, round-the-clock supply of clean drinking water has already begun. This is a major project which has a social value. Of course, all this work is being done for people’s comfort.

Water supply projects are being implemented in various parts of our country now. A few days ago we completed water supply projects in several cities. The process continues. Now it is the turn of Zagatala.

This project, of course, is a gift to the people. Perhaps, as is the case in other places, water supply here was intermittent – possibly for only a few hours a day and not of the best quality. Now, high-quality water is supplied for 24 hours a day.

We will now be shown the work done. This is a great event. It is of great importance and has a huge social significance.

At the same time, it shows the overall development of our country. I will also review other new projects in Zagatala today. I can see that creative work is being done. Buildings are being renovated and regain their historical appearance. This park is completely renovated. A beautiful recreation area has been set up.

Other projects are being implemented. The landscaping of the city is ongoing. There is extensive construction. In other words, the whole social infrastructure is available here. The implementation of the drinking water project will be followed by gasification. It is not up to standard yet. We should try to supply gas to Zagatala by about 90-95 per cent. Perhaps we will be able to achieve that within the next year. The construction of rural roads is powering ahead. We are allocating funds for these purposes and will continue to do so in the future. These projects are implemented in every city, in every district, so there is the issue of funding. But we are trying to implement at least one or two projects in every district in the near future. Then, of course, we will achieve a broader scope of these projects.

After the earthquake, restoration work has been carried out here successfully. About 20 schools are being rebuilt.

Some have been built or are under construction now. Buildings are being restored. I am told that 3,388 houses have been built in just one year. It is an incredible achievement. Work commensurate with a large settlement or city has been carried out in one district in one year. In addition, this work is done in the neighboring districts too – Balakan, Gakh, Shaki. However, Zagatala suffered major destruction. So this work is ongoing here, and I am sure that the other houses will also be either repaired or rebuilt in the near future, so that our citizens could move into new homes.

Of course, an earthquake is a major natural disaster. Fortunately, there were no casualties and no tragedy. But people's homes were destroyed. I remember saying back then that even better homes, more spacious and durable, would be built. Most of the previous houses were built of poor quality material. And now there are strong homes and if, God forbid, there is an earthquake, these homes will not be in danger. This is the policy of the Azerbaijani state and its attitude to its citizens. It shows once again that Azerbaijan is a social state.

A social state means that people are at the center of the government policy. Everything should be done for the people, it should be for the citizens of Azerbaijan, and we are seeing that on the example of Zagatala. In earlier periods major investment was made here: the Olympic complex, the stadium, the diagnostic center and other projects. Today I have reviewed the construction of the Heydar Aliyev Center, a kindergarten and finally the implementation of a drinking water project.

Drinking water projects are possibly in first place among infrastructure projects as they aim to create a comfortable life.

Water means life and health. Quality drinking water means a healthy life. The issue of providing Zagatala with drinking water has already been resolved. Several villages have been covered as well. In the future, these projects will be implemented individually and in other villages.

This is my sixth time in Zagatala. Every time I come here I see some innovation. Last time we walked around historical stairs, and the head of the executive authority said there were certain plans. Restoration work was under way then. Now it has been completed. The Gala Duzu complex has been built. The historical buildings of Zagatala will also be restored.

We will pay attention to this work too, because we approach these issues comprehensively. We must preserve our history and heritage.

At the same time, every city should develop. We must preserve history and create modern conditions, and we are creating them. This is the case both in Baku and here. There are many cities in Azerbaijan that have a rich history and culture. And Zagatala is among them. The buildings located around us have a long history.

We know and need to know our history. Young people should also know it. And we are making history now – the history of independence. This is the most glorious history in the life of our people of all periods. Never before have Azerbaijani people lived so quietly and has the Azerbaijani state been so strong! This independence is for real. At the beginning of the last century Azerbaijan existed as an independent state for two years. But we all know that that independence was incomplete, which is why it did not last long. Two years later, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic collapsed. Before that, in various periods of our history, there were traditions of statehood. They are very important to us. But such a free and independent Azerbaijan has never existed before. We need to know that – both us and the younger generation. We need to protect and reinforce it. The development of every city and the improvement of every village mean the cornerstone of our independence. These projects, of course, could be realized only in an independent Azerbaijan because the independent Azerbaijan is the state of the Azerbaijani people, and the policies of the independent Azerbaijan are focused on the human factor. People come first!

Citizens of Azerbaijan, their security, quiet life and well-being are in the foreground. So it is a truly remarkable day today.

We are gathered for a great ceremony. But I am sure that there will be many more opening ceremonies in the future. We will meet many more times to celebrate such wonderful innovations. I congratulate you!

RESIDENTS: Thank you very much!

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Then, President Ilham Aliyev reviewed the stands reflecting the project on the reconstruction of water supply and sewage systems of Zagatala.

The director of the State Agency for Rehabilitation and Restoration of Territories, Ali Mammadov, informed the President about the implementation of the project on the reconstruction of water supply of Zagatala and the creation of a sewage system. It was noted that the implementation of the project had started in November 2010 and the first phase of the work has been completed. Work on the second and third stages is now in progress.

It was noted that the project is designed to meet the expected growth of the population up to 2031. As a result of the reconstruction of the water supply system in the district, the daily water needs of 22,000 residents of Zagatala and 26,000 inhabitants of seven villages will be fully met.

It was noted that the water sources the construction of which has been completed can fully meet the water needs of 75,000 people living in the district. This means that in 2031, 50 per cent of the population of Zagatala District will be fully provided with drinking water. Laboratory studies have confirmed that water quality at this stage fully complies with international and local standards.

It was noted that work on the reconstruction of the water supply and sewage systems of Zagatala was conducted in three phases. The first phase has seen construction of the Talachay water source, a water main, reservoirs, chlorination facilities, a laboratory, etc. A 6.65-km water main has been built at this stage. A checkpoint, a water intake chamber, chlorination and laboratory buildings have been built and fitted with the necessary equipment at the site of rainwater systems. In addition, one new reservoir has been built and another restored. The second stage has seen construction of the Zilbanchay and water source and a 5-km water main. Areas for reservoirs have been identified in two places of the city. Reservoirs in these areas have been renovated and a new one built. Water and sewage networks, a sewage collector line and a production base of a local water management department have also been built. All subscribers will be provided with counters.

During the third phase, work is underway on construction of wastewater treatment plants and installation of process systems. The capacity of wastewater treatment plants of 10,000 cubic meters per day is sufficient to cover the city of Zagatala and seven villages.

President Ilham Aliyev was informed that the wastewater treatment complex is based on state-of-the-art technology and will be commissioned in the first quarter of 2014.

After reviewing the stands, President Ilham Aliyev launched the installation to supply drinking water to the city Zagatala.

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Then a picture was taken as a souvenir.