BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 8. Serving as President of Azerbaijan is a great responsibility and honor, said President Ilham Aliyev during an interview with local television channels on January 7, Trend reports.
"First of all, it is a great responsibility. First and foremost, I approach my duty in this way: every day, every hour, day and night. Secondly, it is a great honor. Of course, I have been especially happy lately. For the past four years, my life has been completely different. All of our lives are different. We all live, wake up, and travel abroad with a completely different mindset. To live, work, and engage in international contacts as a representative, especially the leader, of a victorious country is a completely different feeling. Considering that for 17 years, we were in a completely different situation—despite being in the right, we were considered wrong. During these 17 years, there were many moments that remained out of the public eye, moments that deeply angered, saddened, and hurt. Injustice—because, how can I put it, the greatest injustice is injustice itself.
Today, the foundation of progress in every field and aspect lies in positive emotions, good spirits, the comfort of our society, and a sense of self-confidence. I know that the Azerbaijani people stand behind me. The Azerbaijani people also know that I stand behind them—this is a unique feeling. Many may not have experienced this, especially as someone who has led the country during two different periods, which perhaps makes it a unique experience. Even though four years have passed, it is still difficult to fully comprehend. I have visited the liberated territories perhaps more than 100 times, and every time I go, I say the same words to myself, share the same joy. It feels as if I am there for the first time. Just as you feel, I feel the same. Of course, there is a sense of responsibility and pride. We live in a country where, first and foremost, we can take pride in our nation and our people," President Ilham Aliyev said.