Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.8 / Trend /
President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the Azerbaijani people on launching of the country's first telecommunications satellite into orbit.
"Today is a momentous and historic day in our country's life," Aliyev said. "Today the first telecommunications satellite of Azerbaijan has been launched. I sincerely congratulate Azerbaijani people on this historic occasion. It is really a historic day, a great achievement, a great victory of our state. This event indicates that the independent Azerbaijani state is developing intensively and comprehensively, and we are already members of the space club."
The President expressed his gratitude to all structures, all the people, first of all, the Azerbaijani specialists, who were involved in this work.
"Our young specialists are already professionals and our pride. I am very pleased that the majority of those working in this excellent control center, are Azerbaijani citizens. At the same time, launch of the satellite into orbit became possible within international cooperation. This became possible with the assistance and support of the American company Orbital and French company Arianespace. International cooperation develops and enhances in all spheres. We see excellent results of this cooperation in the space industry as well," President Aliyev said.
Azerbaijan is successfully developing, he added.
"Constructive work is underway in the country. International prestige of our country is growing. Azerbaijan is a member of the world's first international organization - the UN Security Council. Azerbaijani economy was ranked the first on the competitiveness in the CIS space and the 46th in the world by authoritative international financial institutions. Very successful economic reforms are underway in our country, and the development of information and communications technology is now one of the distinctive features of the country. It is no coincidence that in accordance with my order, 2013 has been declared the "Year of Information and Communication Technologies". I am confident that in this and subsequent years, we will make even greater achievements in the field of information and communication technologies. Launch of the first satellite, of course, is a very significant historical event," President Aliyev said.
He said Azerbaijan began this work five years ago.
"In 2008, I made a decision to launch an Azerbaijani satellite into orbit. In 2009, the State Programme was adopted. In 2010, Joint-Stock Company Azerkosmos was established and, finally, Azerbaijan became a member of the space club. We are actively working on launching new satellites into orbit in the future and we will achieve it," Aliyev said.
The President noted that additionally, two satellites will be launched into orbit in 2015 and 2016, and great opportunities for the development of the space industry will be created in Azerbaijan.
"Development of information and communication technologies will define and ensure our successful future. Information and communication technology is a sphere of knowledge and intellect, and at the same time a business sphere. The Azerbaijani government will also solve financial issues as a result of the satellite's operation. That is, the satellite's operation will be efficient from an economic point of view. At the same time, development of information and communication technologies defines development of each country as a whole. I am sure that in the future everyone will see how this sphere is important for each country," the President noted.
He added that sphere of information and communication technologies will play a decisive role for the successful and sustainable development of every country.
"I am very pleased that we conduct all the work in this direction in a planned and purposeful fashion. We will take all steps to further strengthen our country and to turn Azerbaijan into a more modern state. It is evidenced by a decree on the establishment of the University of Information Technologies that I have recently signed. Again I want to congratulate the people of Azerbaijan on this historic occasion. Today - February 8, 2013 will go down in Azerbaijan's history. I am confident that we will achieve even more successes in this area in the coming years. Dear compatriots, I sincerely congratulate you on this historic occasion. Long live Azerbaijan," President Aliyev said.