President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of the Yevlakh airport.

First, the head of state met with representatives of the city public.

Greeting the ceremony participants, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- I am very happy to be visiting Yevlakh again. I have repeatedly visited Yevlakh in recent years, when we attended various activities and opening ceremonies together. Today, we are celebrating the opening of a new airport. This is a great event that has great symbolic meaning. The resumption of the activities of the Yevlakh airport is a very significant event which showcases the development and strength of our country. It demonstrates that all of the important infrastructure facilities created earlier are being reconstructed, restored and acquiring an even more contemporary appearance.

As you know, the Yevlakh airport used to function in the Soviet times. Then the runway was not long enough and could only take small planes. A new runway has now been built. Any plane can land here now - "Boeing", "Airbus", etc. This is an airport meeting all international standards, and it will play a very important part in Azerbaijan’s transport infrastructure.

Major investment has been made in Azerbaijan’s transport sector in recent years. We have attracted investment both from abroad and from domestic sources. These investments are primarily made from the state budget. Therefore, Azerbaijan has become a transport hub of the global scale. We have a very favorable geographic location. But if there were no transport infrastructure, this geographic location would not matter much. It is the investment made in this sector in recent years that has turned Azerbaijan into a transport and logistical center. Today, all types of transport in Azerbaijan, including the air transport, meet the highest standards. Special attention is paid to this area, and the airports built in Azerbaijan in recent years, the new modern aircraft and passenger services showcase our development.

Several airports have been reconstructed in Azerbaijan in the past 10 years: Nakhchivan, Ganja and Lankaran. These airports have started to operate international flights. At the same time, three new airports have been built: Zagatala, Gabala and the new airport terminal and infrastructure of the Heydar Aliyev Airport. The Heydar Aliyev International Airport, which is about to be opened soon, is one of the most beautiful and most modern airports in the world. And it will become operational soon. The Yevlakh airport also owns a place in the transport sector, and I am pleased that this project has been realized in a short time. This project has been implemented on my order. I am sure that the operation of this airport will contribute to the Azerbaijani economy.

In general, all issues relating to the transport sector are being successfully resolved. Roads are built, including rural ones. Rural roads are also built in Yevlakh. The railway is being reconstructed. The biggest seaport is under construction in Baku. The biggest seaport in the Caspian Sea will be in Baku. A shipyard is built and vehicles purchased. We approach these issues comprehensively and so the presence of the transport infrastructure provides us with new opportunities. Of course, we look forward to the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. This project was also initiated by Azerbaijan. Our partners and neighbors have provided great support for this project. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is constructed jointly, and after completion it will become a new corridor of global proportions. Both in terms of the distance and economic profitability, this project is of great economic and political value.

Given the fact that the North-South corridor also passes through the territory of Azerbaijan, we are interested in its development and make every effort in it. Thus, I believe that over the last 10 years all our goals relating to the transport sector have been overfulfilled, and the airport we are opening today is further proof of that.

Regarding the development of Yevlakh District, I am very pleased that it has been very rapid in recent years. A lot of creative work has been done and Yevlakh turned into a modern city. Major infrastructure facilities, parks, alleys and the boulevard have been built and extensive landscaping carried out.

Last time I visited Yevlakh I saw the boulevard. I am very pleased that positive experience is already applied here. The Baku boulevard, as you know, is expanding and will reach 14 kilometers in the near future.

The Yevlakh boulevard has been built. Boulevards are built in other cities along the Kura River. This is a great initiative and a place of recreation. It is a place created for people’s comfort. There are other recreation areas, parks, gardens and workplaces in Yevlakh.

This is my sixth visit to Yevlah, and I have participated in various opening ceremonies lately. I am glad that Yevlakh is growing fast. Further measures will be taken to develop the district. Gasification is progressing well. The city is completely gasified, and I believe that all the villages will also be gasified in the next few months. So gasification will reach 100 per cent.

The implementation of drinking water and sewage projects is on the agenda, and I believe that this issue will be resolved within one year or 18 months. This is a very serious matter. As you know, drinking water and sewage projects are implemented all over the country now, so they will be implemented in Yevlakh too. Rural roads are built. Today we will celebrate the opening of a rural road. So the implementation of all infrastructure projects is going well. The vast majority of these projects are financed from the state budget of Azerbaijan. Our budget has increased 20 times over the last 10 years. So I believe that such an increase is unique in the world. Economic growth has naturally led to an increase in budget spending. All our economic successes have been aimed at the development of our country and regions. I am glad that the second regional development program is successfully completing. We are working on another program, and additional measures will be taken over the next five years with regard to every district, including Yevlakh.

I want to congratulate you on this wonderful event once again. I am sure that we will meet many more times in the future, as there will be many more opening ceremonies. We will congratulate each other on further wonderful events. Thank you.

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Speaking on behalf of the local public, Shakin Karimov expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the support provided for the development of Yevlakh.

Then, Ali Guliyev thanked the head of state on behalf of young people for his contribution to the country’s youth policy.

The President of Azerbaijan cut the ribbon marking the opening of the airport.

The head of state reviewed the stand describing the plan of the Yevlakh airport.

The President of the "Azerbaijan Airlines" CJSC, Jahangir Asgarov, noted that the Yevlakh airport had undergone two major stages of its development. The first coincided with a period of comprehensive development of aviation, which was carried out at the initiative of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev in 1978-1980. This is when the airport operations were improved and a base was established for agricultural aviation. As part of those measures, the runway 1,600 meters in length and 35 meters wide was reconstructed. The runway was equipped with a lighting system, taxiways were created, and a radio beacon, a direction finder and radar control were installed. This enabled round-the-clock reception of "Yak-40" jets and the opening of the Baku-Yevlakh-Baku, Yevlakh-Nakhchivan-Yevlakh and Yevlakh-Minvody-Yevlakh flights. To provide services to passengers, a terminal building with a capacity of 100 passengers per hour was built. At the time, the platform could simultaneously accommodate four "Yak-40" planes. Another direction has seen the establishment of a base for the maintenance of agricultural aircraft "AN -2". Hangars, a laboratory for maintenance of aircraft and radio equipment and a battery facility were put in place. Following the construction of a warehouse for fuels and lubricants and 60 parking slots for "AN -2" aircraft, the airport was expanded. The flight, technical and engineering personnel and their families were provided with suitable conditions for stay and recreation. The area around the airport was landscaped, a local club and other community facilities refurbished.

Thanks to the care and attention of President Ilham Aliyev, an important new stage in the development of the Yevlakh airport has begun. Over a short period of time, a new runway, an apron and taxiways were built, the terminal building upgraded, and ancillary buildings renovated.

It was noted that the reconstruction of the airport began in March of this year. The Yevlakh airport, which plays an important part in the history of the national aviation, has been refurbished in accordance with the latest standards. The work carried out here is clear evidence of the development ongoing in the country.

The President was informed about the technical and economic parameters of the airport. It was noted that as a result of the reconstruction, a new asphalt concrete runway 2,520 meters in length, 40 meters wide and covering a total area of 105,000 square meters has been built. Previously, the runway was only 1,200 meters long. In addition, a new asphalt concrete taxiway 345 meters long, 25 meters wide and covering an area of 10,700 square meters, a new asphalt concrete apron with an area of 30,800 square meters had been built and the terminal covering 1200 square meters renovated. The runway, the taxiway and the apron are equipped with a foreign lighting system. There are arrival and departure zones, check-in counters, cafés, a briefing room and offices for the airport staff at the terminal. The four-storey building of the air traffic control with a total area of 1,300 square meters has also been completely renovated.

It was noted that the square outside the airport has been landscaped and a parking lot for 60 cars established. To ensure uninterrupted power supply of the airport, a transformer substation has been built and two 10-volt power lines 1,300 meters in length extended. Another transformer substation has been built for power supply of the radio navigation systems and lighting equipment, and a diesel generator with a capacity of 250 kilovolts installed. For security reasons, a 9-km protective fence has been built along the airport perimeter. Radio and meteorological equipment manufactured in Europe and meeting the requirements and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, including landing and meteorology systems, air traffic control and communications, have been installed. The Yevlakh airport, capable of accommodating large cargo and passenger aircraft, will play an important part in the development of agriculture. A new road to the airport has been built and extensive landscaping work carried out.

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The head of state chatted with local residents.

President Ilham Aliyev: We have restored the airport in Yevlakh.

Resident: Now we have everything, we only needed an airport.

Resident: We are well aware of what is happening in the world. There are wars, people are killing each other, the world is hit by famine and poverty, cities are falling apart. But Azerbaijan is developing dynamically. We express our deep gratitude to you for this. Our country is developing rapidly and comprehensively. As someone with some experience in this field, I see that you have started with infrastructure. These have been very relevant steps. All areas are developing in our country and this development is very fast. There are global superpowers which are engulfed by unrest. They axe jobs and reduce wages. But praise be to Allah, thanks to your leadership our country is rapidly developing. Every day we see you on television commissioning water and sewage lines. There is nothing more noble and important than that.

By this you win over people’s hearts and give them joy. Thank you! We wish you good health. God bless you, Mr. President!

President Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan is really developing.

Resident: Our republic is becoming more beautiful. Our districts are becoming more beautiful. And so are we, the elderly.

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course.

Resident: We are proud of you. The entire Yevlakh District, everyone is proud of you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. On the example of Yevlakh we see the dynamic development of the entire Azerbaijan. As you mentioned, the world is struggling with a recession. The economic downturn started a few years ago and then developed into a financial crisis. Also, as you said, different places are experiencing a political crisis. There are wars, standoffs and civil wars. Azerbaijan is going its own way. Azerbaijan is developing dynamically, in security, peace and stability. Stability is crucial. We remember the early 1990s very well. There was no stability then. The young state which had just gained independence was about to lose it. But under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev stability was established and Azerbaijan embarked on the path of development it is on today.

Over the recent years Azerbaijan has come a long way thanks to the implementation of regional development programs. As you pointed out, we started with infrastructure projects, first of all with power supply. Any development without that would be impossible. This was followed by roads, gas and water lines and the transport infrastructure.

Support was provided for the private sector. Farmers received loans amounting to hundreds of millions. The pensions, salaries and social benefits increasing every year are a reality in Azerbaijan. I can say that there is no other country in the world that would develop as much as Azerbaijan in economic and social terms in recent years.

The world’s most influential economic structure, the World Economic Forum, has recently released a new report where Azerbaijan is ranked 39^th in the world in terms of competitiveness. This is a reality, this is our development. We have left behind many developed countries. I said several years ago that we should also become a developed country. And we will get there.

The work to be implemented in the coming years will develop Azerbaijan even more. We will only go forward. We will only develop. All the regions, including Yevlakh, will grow even prettier, although it is already a beautiful and modern city. Every time I visit here I see that the city is becoming prettier and improving. You, the people living here, see and contribute to that. This is possible thanks to your hard work.

I congratulate you and wish you every success and good health. We will have many more meetings in the future.

Residents: Thank you. Hopefully, under your leadership!

Resident: Please convey our greetings to Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva. Please tell her that we love her very much. She also helps you to carry this burden. Always be together!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much!

Resident: May Allah grant you good health and happiness! You are the best of the best presidents. We are always there for you. May Allah grant you good health to make this republic even more beautiful.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Resident: I have been to Baku. What a beautiful city! Oh my God!

President Ilham Aliyev: Yevlakh is not too much behind.

Resident: It isn’t. All the districts are beautiful now. But Baku is something special. May Allah grant you good health.

President Ilham Aliyev: All the districts are competing with each other. And I think that this is a good and sound competition.

Residents: Thank you.

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Then photos were taken.