Ilham Aliyev has familiarized himself with work carried out in Sabunchu District

In connection with the socioeconomic development of suburban villages, Ilham Aliyev has familiarized himself with work carried out in the village of Sabunchu.

President Ilham Aliyev has visited various population centres in order to familiarize himself with the implementation of the instructions he issued on renovation and reconstruction work in villages and settlements at a meeting on the socioeconomic development of suburban villages at the Baku City Executive Authorities.

On 27 April, the head of state visited the village of Sabunchu in order to closely familiarize himself with renovation and reconstruction work there.

The head of the Baku City Executive Authorities, Hajibala Abutalibov, informed President Ilham Aliyev about the work that has been carried out on the basis of the plan of the village.

The Azerbaijani president also viewed a photo stand reflecting the previous state of the area around the Sabunchu train station. It was noted that sewerage, water and communications lines in the area around the Sabunchu train station had been replaced with new ones. The 28,000-square-metre Aslidar Mammadaliyev Street was covered with two layers of asphalt, while its 950-metre-long pavement was covered with granite plates. Also, 1,700 square metres of the pavement were covered with asphalt. In addition, preparatory work is under way to cover 22,000-square-metre internal roads of the village with asphalt. Reconstruction work has been completed inside the building of the Sabunchu train station.

After closely familiarizing himself with the work that was carried out, President Ilham Aliyev met with local residents.

RESIDENT: Dear Mr President, welcome! We are all pleased with the decree you issued recently. We have always supported, and will support, you. Thank you very much!

President Ilham ALIYEV: Thank you. These decrees are being implemented. Good work is currently underway in all villages, roads are being built, and work has begun in the village of Sabunchu as well. Socioeconomic problems are being resolved in all villages. In several days, a special major state programme will be adopted. All issues will be reflected in the programme. I know that the village of Sabunchu also has problems. We are aware of these problems and are trying to resolve them. First of all, the issue of road construction is being dealt with here. After that, sewerage lines should be laid. In general, the village of Sabunchu and other villages did not have sewerage lines before. This is the biggest problem. We are trying to resolve this problem. All villages have a problem with water. It is also a serious problem. Problems with electricity and gas are being resolved. But we have to carry out greater work.

Under the programme, it is planned to refurbish kindergartens and schools located in the village of Sabunchu. I am sure that residents of Sabunchu will feel the implementation of this programme. Several important issues are facing us. Of course, the development of villages around Baku is the priority among them. I visit villages, familiarize myself with the situation and see for myself how the work is progressing. I would like to hear from you what issues concern you the most. What issues should we start from? That's to say what priorities are there and what issues worry you?

RESIDENT: Mr President, first of all, welcome to the village of Sabunchu. All this work has been carried out thanks to you. Everyone likes and approves of it. We all approve of it.

Everyone knows that about 31,000 people live in the village of Sabunchu, including about 5,000 displaced persons. The village of Sabunchu has an ancient history. We always watch your meetings with the population in Baku and in villages around Baku. I swear to God that we are amazed. Wonderful work is being carried out thanks to the decisions and instructions you issue. This is a great job. But just like there are certain problems everywhere, there are some problems in the village of Sabunchu as well. One of these problems is the issue of polyclinics in our village. The village has polyclinics for both adults and children. The polyclinic for adults occupies a building that was built in 1898. The building occupied by the children's polyclinic was built in 1925. Both polyclinics are located close to each other. Neither meets modern requirements. All people living in Sabunchu visit these polyclinics. On behalf of all residents, I am asking you to construct a building that would house both polyclinics. This would be a great benefit for us.

President Ilham ALIYEV: Okay, we will organize it. Indeed, there is a great need for this. Modern medical centres are currently being opened in all parts of our country. Of course, this work should be carried in Baku and surrounding villages at the appropriate level. These issues should be resolved at the modern level here, because these medical centres are old and have outdated equipment. Conditions are not that good either.

RESIDENT: It is not in a very good condition. It would be good if you issued a decree on the construction of a new polyclinic in our village. We have all always supported, and support, you and we will support you till the end of our lives, because all these issues are being resolved on your instructions. As we see it, we become astonished. We feel even more spirited with your visits to the villages and such meetings with you.

President Ilham ALIYEV: This is the first stage. The main roads will be repaired, kindergartens, schools and medical centres will be built and sewerage and water pipelines will be laid. We take a complex approach to this work in order to solve the main issues until the end of 2013. We plan a programme for 2011-2013. Although the first four months of 2011 are about to end, very serious work will be started in the remaining months. As we said, the village of Sabunchu has a great history, and it is an ancient settlement. Therefore, we must beautify and renovate this historical settlement. There should be good conditions to live and work here, and measures must be taken to create jobs. Everything should be at a high and modern level like this road. All other roads should also be at the same level as this road.

RESIDENT: We thank you very much for coming to our village of Sabunchu and for thinking it necessary to come here. I was born and grew up in this district. Our district is multinational. The 31,000 local residents are living in a peaceful and friendly atmosphere here. We thank you for all the work you have done. You have already mentioned all the problems we meant to mention. We know and we hope that they will be solved in a short period of time. However, I have a very small request. Recently, you visited the village of Bulbula. There was a road problem there and you solved that problem in a very short time.

President Ilham ALIYEV: It's true. We solved it.

RESIDENT: We have the same problem. We have no possibility of travelling from Sabunchu to the airport. It is the same in the village of Bakikhanov. We have to get on a bus, travel towards Mashtaga, return to the central road from there and come to the village of Bakikhanov because all our administrative centres are located there. But there is no possibility of reaching the village of Bakikhanov quickly. This problem can be solved in a short time because we have a one-way road, and it is possible to widen it.

President Ilham ALIYEV: In general, these issues can be solved in a short time. In Bulbula, we did this work within one week indeed.

RESIDENT: And it was done very well.

President Ilham ALIYEV: It is also very comfortable. We are building roads and big highways.

RESIDENT: In general, the city of Baku has become very beautiful.

President Ilham ALIYEV: Of course, we should ensure that it is easy to travel to villages.

RESIDENT: Thank you very much!

President Ilham ALIYEV: Thank you. I wish you success.

RESIDENT: We are always with you! May God protect you! We only wish you success! Thank you very much!

President Ilham ALIYEV: Thank you. As you said, representatives of all nations have been living in Sabunchu District as one family throughout history. This is the particularity of our country. We highly value this situation. From now on, representatives of all peoples will also be living in an atmosphere of good neighbourliness in Azerbaijan. Of course, the development of every village is of great importance, because more than 800,000 people are living in villages around Baku. The population of the village of Sabunchu is 30,000 and of Sabunchu District more than 200,000.

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After that, residents of the village had a group photo taken with President Ilham Aliyev.

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After his meeting with residents of the village, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited the site of a new access road to the village of Bakikhanov and Heydar Aliyev Avenue leading to the airport. After closely familiarizing himself with the site, President Ilham Aliyev issued relevant instructions on the construction of the new road.