Congratulatory message of Ilham Aliyev to the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the New Year

- Dear ladies and gentlemen!

Dear compatriots!

Year 2013 is about to begin in a few minutes. 2012 has been a very successful year for our country. The successful and dynamic development of our country has been ensured in 2012. All the tasks facing our country have been fulfilled. Azerbaijan’s economy successfully developed in 2012, and this development manifests itself in the economy again. What makes us particularly delighted is the fact that the non-oil economy grew by 10 per cent, which shows that our policy of reforms is very successful and effective.

Our economy is diversified. I am sure that further opportunities will be created in the coming years to ensure a sustainable economic development of our country. All our economic indicators are high. The level of poverty has dropped to 6 per cent. The rate of unemployment is 5.2 per cent. This year saw over 100,000 jobs created, while a total of 1.1 million jobs have been created in the past nine years. The new jobs have significantly helped us to reduce unemployment.

International rating agencies upgraded our country’s credit ratings in 2012. This is a very good and remarkanle event for a year of crisis.

The Azerbaijani economy is ranked in 46th place in the world for competitiveness. I am confident that our position will further improve in the years to come.

The economic reforms and consistent policies have enabled us to make great strides in the social sector too. Year 2012 saw a rise in salaries and pensions. Targeted social assistance covers tens of thousands families.

The repayment of deposits left in Soviet banks began in 2012. I am sure that this process will be completed next year. Azerbaijan’s policy in this direction deserves commendation in the CIS because we will repay these deposits within a short period of time and with the highest interest rate. All these issues show that our consistent policies are generating specific results in both economic and social spheres.

A lot was done in 2012 to resolve the problems of the internally displaced persons as 20,000 IDPs were provided with new flats and houses. Housing conditions of over 20,000 IDPs will be improved next year. Thus, we will create perfect conditions for our compatriots as a result of the state program. Of course, after our lands are liberated from occupation, we will build new homes, districts and towns in the occupied lands and provide good conditions for our citizens. I am sure that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity.

Our economic and military power is growing. Our international position is strengthening. Very serious political events took place in 2012 to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. First of all, I want to highlight a statement by the heads of Minsk Group co-chair countries, which stressed that the status quo was unacceptable. It shows that all parties , including the mediators directly involved with this issue, the countries that have assumed this function, are refusing to put up with the occupation. The change of the status quo means an end to occupation.

The summit of the Non-Aligned Movement which Azerbaijan has joined adopted a comprehensive and fair resolution in 2012. It says that the conflict must be resolved on the basis of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity only. At the same time, the resolution adopted by the NATO summit in 2012 highlighted that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict must be resolved on
the basis of territorial integrity. Member-countries of the Non-Aligned Movement and NATO constitute the vast majority of the world community and the stance of these countries is unambiguous: the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored. There is no other solution to the conflict.

I want to reiterate that Azerbaijan will never tolerate another so-called Armenian state on its lands. The present-day Armenia was established on historically Azerbaijani territories. We know this history very well. The Erivan khanate, Zangazur and Goycha regions were historically our territories. A second Armenian state will never be set up on Azerbaijani lands. Azerbaijan will never allow this to happen. Nagorno-Karabakh will never get independence. Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity and the Azerbaijani flag will fly in all the towns currently under occupation, including Shusha and Khankandi. I think that the mediators must come up with more concrete proposals to resolve the conflict in 2013 and that the aggressor must be forced to vacate the occupied lands as soon as possible.

It is no secret that we are seriously building up our military capacity. The Azerbaijani army is the strongest force in the South Caucasus. All necessary measures are being taken to reinforce our army. Large amounts of military hardware, ammunition, aircraft, helicopters, artillery, air-defense systems have been acquired. Besides, over 40 military products are now manufactured domestically. We will strengthen our army even more in 2013. Our military spending exceeds the overall budget of Armenia by 50 per cent. This consistent and comprehensive policy will be continued so that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh could be resolved and Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity restored.

As to energy security issues, a landmark event took place in 2012. The TANAP project was signed. TANAP will allow us to deliver huge amounts of gas to world markets. I believe that TANAP is the biggest energy security step in recent years not only for our country but also for the region and the European continent as a whole. The TANAP project was initiated by Azerbaijan. I am sure that Azerbaijan will implement the TANAP project with its partners in a timely manner. Thus, the European energy map will dramatically change.

At the same time, another important project, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, was successfully continued in 2012. I am sure that we will celebrate the opening of the railway next year. Enormous work was done in the humanitarian sphere in 2012. Baku has grown into a global center for organizing and expanding the dialogue between civilizations.

The successful outcomes of the Second International Humanitarian Forum have introduced our country to the world. At the same time, I am sure that our experience is studied in other countries because all peoples and representatives of all religions live and will continue to live in Azerbaijan in a friendly atmosphere and like one family. National and religious tolerance is Azerbaijan’s great asset.

Great achievements were made in sport in 2012. Azerbaijan gained a historic victory in the Summer Olympic Games in London. We won 10 medals, including two gold, two silver and six bronze. We have won 10 medals for the first time in our history. Thus, Azerbaijan finished in 30th place in the world, in 15th in Europe and in 3rd among Muslim countries for the Olympic medal count.

Good news reached us at the end of 2012. The General Assembly of the European Olympic Committee passed a historic decision in December to conduct the inaugural 2015 European Olympic Games in Baku. It is our great victory too. These games will go down in history as the first European games. It is a great honor and responsibility for Baku and Azerbaijan to play host to the first European Olympic Games. At the same time, it is the European Olympic family’s high assessment of the work done in Azerbaijan. Given the fact that we have successfully hosted Europe’s and the world’s top song contest, Eurovision, this year, I am sure the European Olympic Games will also be conducted with great success. In all the spheres I have mentioned, 2012 will be remembered as a successful year and these accomplishments allow us to look into 2013 with great optimism. I am sure that all the tasks facing our country next year will be successfully fulfilled.

Today, we are also celebrating the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis. Taking this opportunity, I cordially salute all Azerbaijanis of the world. I want you to know that you can be proud of the independent state of Azerbaijan. The state of Azerbaijan is a member of the world’s number one international organization - the UN Security Council. Azerbaijan has managed to maintain economic growth even in the years of crisis, has laid a solid economic foundation using its own resources and is now looking into the future with great hopes and optimism.

I sincerely wish all Azerbaijanis of the world wonderful holidays - the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year. I wish every Azerbaijani family good health and happiness.

Congratulations!