President of Azerbaijan: "Karabakh will never be independent, Azerbaijan will never recognize it. Neither in five, ten nor in twenty years. Never"

"I am grateful to the Azerbaijani people for voting for me. I pledge to spare no efforts for the development of the country and improvement of people's welfare", said I.Aliyev at the inauguration ceremony according to Interfax-Azerbaijan.

He also thanked the ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan for holding the electoral campaign. "I am also grateful to other candidates who congratulated me with the victory", said I.Aliyev.

"I hope these elections will play a role in strengthening the election culture, bringing new traditions and after that the political struggle will be only civilian", said Aliyev.

He noted that great progress has been recorded in all directions in Azerbaijan through the past five years. "Azerbaijan has consolidated its positions and political and economic reforms as well as the democratization process are held successfully. Today Azerbaijan has intensified its position in the world community. We base our policy on national interests, national dignity, national conscience and tolerance. All people in Azerbaijan live in conditions of peace. Civil solidarity has fully established in Azerbaijan", said Aliyev.

"Our policy is clear. All our actions are aimed at strengthening the country, deepening of economic reforms and raising people's welfare. We have done a huge work in the sphere of international affairs. We are interested in building mutually profitable relations with all countries. The countries, cooperating with us in the region are satisfied with this cooperation. We want the neighbor states to live in conditions of peace and cooperation", said the head of the state.

"We are interested in continuation of friendly relations with all countries. Our relations and positions in the international organizations have deepened. I do not doubt that in the future our policy will be more flexible and purposeful and in the result our international position will further strengthen", said Aliyev.

Nagorno Karabakh will never be independent, said President of Azerbaijan while speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Baku Friday.

"Karabakh will never be independent. Azerbaijan will never recognize it. Neither in five, ten, nor in twenty years. Never", said I.Aliyev.

He noted that the talks on the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict are held in the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

"The undertaken steps have promoted the consolidation of our position. Today, the world understands that the conflicts must find their solution in this region. This can happen only in the framework of the international law and the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan", said Aliyev.

"Azerbaijan will never agree to the cessation of its lands. And we, by strengthening our territorial integrity, will attain the return of the occupied lands. International law and historical justice is on our side. The cooperation with Armenia is out of the question unless our lands are liberated", said Aliyev.

He noted that the potential of the peaceful talks have not been exhausted yet.

"We are interested in continuation of talks, our hopes have not melted away yet, we still consider that the talks may promote the just resolution of the conflict", said Aliyev.

"The opposition side must accept the reality, which implies that it is difficult and even impossible to rival Azerbaijan today. Our political and economic potential, economic streng, international law and justice is on our side, strengthening our positions. I am sure that in the result of all these factors and our active policy, our lands will be liberated", said the head of the state.

He noted that through the past five years the potential of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan has strongly consolidated. "The level of preparation and professionalism has grown much. Construction will also accelerate in the future. Much has been done for improvement of the material and technical basis of the army. In 2003 the military spendings of the country made $163 mln while in 2008 this amount reached $1,085,000,000 and in the coming years these expenses will grow. The draft budget for 2009 will envision greater amounts for the armed forces and, thus, by creating a strong army, we are accelerating the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. All these factors play their role and the opposite side should know and it really knows that Azerbaijan is a strong state. We are strong both economically and politically", said the head of the state.

"Azerbaijan has settled all the issues of its energy security", said President Ilham Aliyev during the inauguration ceremony.

"We have settled all tasks, set before us. Today Azerbaijan has settled issues of energy security by 100%", said Aliyev noting that this is a problem which raises the world community's concerns today.

At the same time, I.Aliyev said that the oil strategy of Azerbaijan was of great use for the country. The country is participating in the successfully implemented large regional oil and gas projects, owing to which Azerbaijan has turned into the gas exporting country.

"These projects will ensure the long-term, successful and stable development of Azerbaijan", noted the President.

The head of the state said that oil and gas extraction has grown significantly through the past five years.

"In 2003 oil production was 15.4 mln tons, this year oil production must top 50 mln tons. In 2003 gas extraction made 5.5 bln cubic meters, while this year it will top 20 bln cubic meters. It is a significant rise, attained through a short period of time", said Aliyev.

According to the head of the state, Azerbaijan has ensured its multi-directional energy policy and today export of energy sources is conducted by means of seven oil and gas pipelines in different directions.

"Energy policy ensures our economic security and enabled us to successfully implement the creative and infrastructural projects. We are fully confident that we will further live within an independent state, basing on these achievements", said Aliyev.

He noted that "today Azerbaijan is really an independent state".

"We are holding an independent policy. Both internal and external policy serves the interests of the Azerbaijani people", concluded the President.

"Interfax-Azerbaijan"