Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16
Trend:
Azerbaijan's policy has always been aimed at reduction of risks and I think what we have today in Azerbaijan, demonstrates that this was the right policy, not only for us but for the region, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
He made the remarks in his opening speech at the 5th News Agencies World Congress in Baku, Nov. 16.
"Of course, talking about 25 years of independence, we need to mention the efforts in our social protection area, creation of social infrastructure," said the president. "One of the main areas of social projects was the resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons, as 250 thousand were provided with new appartments, flats."
"Also, we largely invested in education infrastructure, more than 3000 schools were built in Azerbaijan," said Ilham Aliyev. "We can be proud that Azerbaijan is a country with 100% literacy."
He went on to add that this will allow Azerbaijan to develop, because modern development in the world is not based on natural resources, but on knowledge, technology,education.
"We are trying, and I think that we managed to transform natural resources and wealth into human capital," said the president. "Education was, is, and will always be one of our top priorities."
"Talking about Azerbaijan, I'd like to mention international events which we have organized and which also aim at partnership and friendship," Ilham Aliyev said.
Saying that Azerbaijan is a host country to maky international events, the president named two sports events, which, according to him, go beyond sports.
"First was the Inaugural European Games, organized last year in Baku. It was symbolic from two points of view, first - the European Games were never held before, unlike other continental games, and second - the European Games were held in a Muslim country. This was a very important sign of mutual understanding and I am grateful to our european partners for selecting Azerbaijan as a host country for the first European Games, which were held at the level of Summer Olympic Games. It was a real festival of unity and friendship," he said.
Ilham Aliyev then said that next year Azerbaijan will be hosting the Islamic Solidarity Games.
"In one city, in two years, the European Games and the Islamic Games will be organized," he said.