President Ilham Aliyev presides over Cabinet`s meeting on outcomes of socio-economic development - UPDATE - PHOTOS

The military parade held in June this year showed our strength, the power of the Azerbaijani state and army, President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting of the Cabinet to discuss outcomes of the socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“The armed forces are strengthening and vast resources are allocated for that. In general, our military spending is $3.3 billion. This is 50 per cent more than the total state budget of Armenia, a country living in poverty.”

“Of course, $3.3 billion is a big amount. But it is both big and small. It is big because it is a lot of money. And it is small because we must pay even more attention to these issues. We should try to find the resources before the end of the year to further increase our military spending.”

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“Our transition to the principles of e-government will be a very effective factor in the fight against corruption,” President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting of the Cabinet to discuss outcomes of the socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“In general, we must strive to eliminate civil servant-citizen contacts as far as possible. It is now possible to obtain different information and documents through the Internet, electronically. Registration should also be conducted via the Internet. All these issues are listed in the special order I have signed. According to it, every ministry and government agency is to submit suggestions on which of their services should be provided electronically. Let there be no delays with that. This order and its execution are under my direct supervision.”

According to the Head of State, “suggestions must be submitted soon. After that even more serious steps will be taken. The fight against corruption and bribery is yielding results, good results.”

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“The latest joint statement by heads of the Minsk Group co-chair countries is very reassuring and causes satisfaction,” President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting of the Cabinet to discuss outcomes of the socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“The statement refers to the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act. The Helsinki Final Act is indicated as the basis for resolving the conflict. The principles of territorial integrity of countries are not in conflict with those of self-determination of nations. Issues of conflict resolution within the framework of territorial integrity are also defined explicitly.”

Touching upon the overall activity of the Minsk Group co-chair countries on this matter, the President said: “We are seeing this activity, and so is the public. Prior to the meeting in Kazan, I had a telephone conversation with US President Mr. Obama. On the eve of the Kazan meeting French President Mr. Sarkozy sent me a letter over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Kazan meeting, as you know, was held on the initiative of Russian President Medvedev. After the meeting, US Secretary of State Mrs. Clinton sent me a letter, and then I had a telephone conversation with Mrs. Clinton. After the meeting in Kazan, our Foreign Minister met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, and finally President Medvedev sent his foreign minister to Baku who handed me a message from President Medvedev. So the mere enumeration of all these developments shows that the level of activity is quite high, and we are very pleased and encouraged by that because we hope that this activity will produce tangible results. We are seeing that co-chair countries are trying very hard to have the basic principles agreed as soon as possible, so that conditions could be created for the preparation of a peace treaty. We also want this, we want this perhaps more than anyone else because these are our lands, and Armenian invaders have been occupying them for nearly 20 years. So, Azerbaijan is interested in having the issue resolved more than any other party.” 

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“Nagorno-Karabakh cannot have any legal status without Azerbaijan`s consent,” President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting of the Cabinet to discuss outcomes of the socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“This is why I have repeatedly stated in the past and want to say today that alienation of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan, provision of Nagorno-Karabakh with independence or its joining to Armenia has never been and will never be a subject of negotiations. Neither the government nor the people of Azerbaijan will ever accept this.”

The Head of State noted Azerbaijan had clearly demonstrated a constructive approach.

“And we are ready to demonstrate it today too, on the basis of the principles I have described. All Azerbaijani citizens must return to the areas that are currently under occupation. After that, there can be peace.” 

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Azerbaijan`s President has said six more metro stations would open in the country until 2015.
President Ilham Aliyev spoke at a Cabinet meeting to discuss outcomes of the country`s socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“Metro construction occupies a particular place among important infrastructure projects. Huge projects are implemented in this area. Three new stations were inaugurated in the last three years.”

“This is a very positive indicator. Metro is the cheapest and most convenient means of transport. We are doing this for people`s comfort. Azerbaijan has the cheapest metro tariffs in the world – 15 copecks. No country in the CIS or any other place in the world has such low tariffs for metro,” said the Azerbaijani leader.

President Aliyev noted: “The metro construction is underway in Azerbaijan, the tariffs area stable. And the launch of 3 stations in three years means that we have enough resources.”
“We have purchased a world-class tunnel digging equipment, and this will allow us to speed up what we are doing,” he added.

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A great work has been done to develop ICT sector in Azerbaijan, said President Ilham Aliyev.

The Head of State spoke at a Cabinet meeting to discuss outcomes of the country`s socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“We attach a particular emphasize to the information and communication technologies sector. A great work has been done in this regard both on the CIS and world scale.”  The President highlighted Azerbaijan`s project to put its first satellite into orbit.  “Now we have experience in this regard, we have invited foreign experts. We are working with leading companies, and we will create a strong space industry.”

President Aliyev also praised the development of mobile communication and internet services in the country. 

“Azerbaijan is a country where internet is free, where there are no internet restrictions. Not all the countries have this. There are countries where internet is not free, where there are internet restrictions.” The President added: “And this proves how much importance we attach to the freedom of press, which is fully ensured in Azerbaijan.”

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Azerbaijan`s President has reiterated that the Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be given any legal status without the permission of official Baku. “No legal status can be given to Nagorno-Karabakh without Azerbaijan`s consent,” President Ilham Aliyev told a Cabinet meeting to discuss outcomes of the country`s socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“I`ve repeatedly declared this, and I repeat today that separation of the Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan, giving independence to the Nagorno-Karabakh or its annexation to Armenia have never been and will never be a subject of the negotiations. Neither the Azerbaijani leadership, nor the people of Azerbaijan will ever accept this.”

The President said: “We are not pretending to carry out negotiations. Here, the difference between Azerbaijan and Armenia is rather big. Armenia is making every effort so that the status-quo remains unchanged, pretending to be part of the negotiations and have a constructive position. In reality, what they have always tried to do was to frustrate the negotiations process.” "The citizens of Azerbaijan must return to their homelands, and only after this peace can be established,” added the Azerbaijani leader.

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“June`s military parade demonstrated the might of Azerbaijan, its army,” said President Ilham Aliyev.

The Head of State spoke at a Cabinet meeting to discuss outcomes of the country`s socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“We attach a particular importance to army building, and huge funds are being spent on this.”
The Azerbaijani leader said: “Our total military spending is 3.3 billion dollars, and this is 50% more that the state budget of poverty-hit Armenia.”

“3.3 billion dollars is a big figure. However, I think we must find further funds to increase our military spending,” President Aliyev added. 

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12.07.2011

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev yesterday presided over a meeting of the Cabinet to discuss outcomes of the socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“Social and economic problems facing the country have been solved in the first half of 2011,” said President Ilham Aliyev in his remarks, adding GDP grew by 0.9%. He attributed low GDP growth in comparison with previous years to the fall in oil production.

“Our major objective is to develop the non-oil sector and diversify the economy,” said the Head of State. He pointed out this sector surged 7.2%, agriculture 6.2%. On the social matters, the President noted pensions shot up 40%.“An Azerbaijani citizen is in the center of our policy,” he said. President Aliyev noted implementation of the state program on socio-economic development of regions has created 38 thousand new jobs in the past six months.

On the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, President Ilham Aliyev branded the statement of the Heads of OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries as `hopeful`.

“This statement is based on Helsinki Final Act and underlines the change in status-quo. In this case, occupied Azerbaijani lands must be freed,” said the Head of State. He underscored Armenia has not wanted to change the status quo over the past 20 years. According to the Azerbaijani leader, co-chairs stepped up their activity. Azerbaijan accepted Madrid principles at a Sochi meeting initiated by the Russian President while Armenia refuses to do so. On the essence of the Madrid principles, President Ilham Aliyev pointed out the new situation emerged and Azerbaijan once again showed its constructiveness.

Despite the attitude of the whole world, European organizations, in particular, co-chair countries to this issue, Armenia`s moves are not understandable and statements of the Armenian leadership run counter to the spirit of talks. “The strong Azerbaijani state and army are one of the major reasons behind activity of international community in recent years,” said the President.

Following opening remarks by the President, Tax Minister Fazil Mammadov, Baku Mayor Hajibala Abutalybov, Minister of Communication and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov, “Azersu” OJSC Chairman Gorkhmaz Huseynov reported on the socio-economic development processes in the past six months. In his closing remarks, President Ilham Aliyev touched upon construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, macroeconomic stability, socio-economic development of Baku and surrounding settlements.

“Construction of the trade seaport has started in the settlement of Alat. Commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway by the end of 2012 is to coincide with completion of construction of the seaport,” President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at a Cabinet`s meeting on Monday.

The Head of State noted the seaport is going to be the biggest and most modern one in the Caspian basin. It will have the capacity to handle huge amounts of cargo from West to East and vice-versa.

He also noted a new terminal of the Heydar Aliyev international airport is being built and an international airport would be put into operation in Gabala. He said the biggest trade seaport in the Caspian basin and shipyard are under construction in Alat. He noted military spending in the country reached 3.3 billion dollars. The Head of State highlighted the need to create industrial centers, develop ICT sector and tourism, construct village roads, solve sanitation problems and provide drinking water without interruptions to the population.


/AzerTAc/

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