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Azerbaijani President: My major task today is to lead Azerbaijan to development, modernization and progress

Politics Materials 27 October 2010 15:54 (UTC +04:00)
"My father - Heydar Aliyev laid the foundation of all achievements of Azerbaijan," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Ukrainian media on the eve of his official visit to Ukraine, "Den" newspaper reported.
Azerbaijani President: My major task today is to lead Azerbaijan to development, modernization and progress

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 27 / Trend /

"My father - Heydar Aliyev laid the foundation of all achievements of Azerbaijan," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Ukrainian media on the eve of his official visit to Ukraine, "Den" newspaper reported.

"Our country was in a very difficult situation before Heydar Aliyev came to power in Azerbaijan. We had a period in history when Azerbaijan became an independent country when the Russian Empire collapsed. But this independence lasted only two years. Then it was taken away because of the objective reasons and politicians, political institutions were not ready for an independent life," he answered the question about most valuable lessons learned from his father and new features brought by Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijani politics.

"The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Azerbaijan became independent. We could lose this independence in 1993 taking into account the Armenian aggression, civil war in Azerbaijan and a very difficult political process, not to mention the economic crisis. At this moment Azerbaijani people showed wisdom despite reactionary extremists forces (I would even say - gangsters) came to power. Azerbaijani people supported Heydar Aliyev, who returned from Nakhchivan and headed the country in 1993. He also laid the basis of statehood of today's Azerbaijan", he said.

Therefore, the memory about him lives in the heart of the Azerbaijani people, he said. The respect showed by Azerbaijani people after his death is a vivid evidence, Aliyev said.

"It was an outstanding, courageous, clear-sighted, principled person. He loved his people and dreamed of the time when we will become masters of our destiny. This has happened. My main task is to lead Azerbaijan through the path of development, modernization and progress since 2003 when I took this office. My task is also to transform Azerbaijan into a modern, dynamic and free country, where people would live well. I would like people to live in prosperity and there will be no poor and unemployed. I am glad that I managed to do much," he said.

"Independence, as I have repeatedly said, is not only the presence of the flag and state attributes. Can you conduct independent policy or not? It concerns especially the country which was a part of other countries and empires for several centuries and did not have independence. Generations of Azerbaijanis were born and died with this thought. Great chance fell on our generation. We can not miss it for Azerbaijan to develop as an independent country for several centuries," President Aliyev said.

Answering the journalists' questions, the president also expressed satisfaction with the active participation of Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva in many important affairs of the country.

"The status of the First Lady is passed according to her husband's position. This position includes the desire, the will and the essence of the person who has this status. I am very pleased that much work is done by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by Mehriban Aliyeva for people in Azerbaijan, having difficulties, to live better. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation is the last address for those who have not found an answer in state structures, that is, the last 'window'. They apply this organization with hope to be heard. Their hopes are justified," he said.

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