Azeri leader blasts Armenia, praises domestic policies in address to diaspora
Azerbaijani TV Channel One, Baku
16 Mar 06
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said that Azerbaijan wants to
resolve peacefully the conflict over the disputed region of Nagornyy
Karabakh but it may rethink its policy if Armenia disrupts the peace
talks. Azerbaijan has been loyal to peace negotiations but it will
not participate in the talks for the sake of talks, Aliyev said
in an address to the Baku-hosted second congress of Azeris of the
world. Karabakh can never be separated from Azerbaijan but it can be
given autonomy, he said. The president also said that Azerbaijan’s
military expenditure would equal Armenia’s entire budget and that he
saw this as his duty. Aliyev said that the restoration of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity would serve the interests of the Armenian
people as well since this would enable Yerevan to join regional
economic projects. The president also praised Azerbaijan’s recent
economic and political achievements. The following is an excerpt
from the speech carried live by Azerbaijani state TV on 16 March;
subheadings have been inserted editorially:
Esteemed ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, dear countrymen.
I sincerely congratulate you all on the opening of the second congress
of Azeris of the world. I wish good health and happiness to all of
you. The congress of Azeris of the world is a very big event.
[Passage omitted: Speaking about a film about the late President
Heydar Aliyev which was shown before Ilham Aliyev’s speech and the
first congress which was organized by Heydar Aliyev]
Organizing diaspora
It was after the first congress that President Heydar Aliyev decided
to set up the State Committee for Work with Azeris Living Abroad. The
committee has been very successful in organizing the Azeri diaspora.
A law on the state policy toward the Azeris living abroad was adopted
in 2002. This has created a legal basis for this undertaking. All these
measures, all these steps continue to yield results. Our countrymen
living abroad have formed organizations, and they play a bigger role
in the countries where they live. Naturally, this both strengthens
their positions and boosts the positions and the significance of the
independent Azerbaijani Republic.
[Passage omitted: praising Heydar Aliyev and his policies]
Foreign policy
Our foreign policy is very successful and active. Azerbaijan occupies
a very important place in international organizations. Our positions
are getting stronger. Fair decisions which benefit Azerbaijan have
been made in various international organizations lately, particularly
concerning the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. We have managed to maintain excellent relations with
neighbouring countries and we are strengthening [these ties]. This
is very important for our development because we live in this region,
and the establishment of peace and security in the region, development
of regional cooperation serves our interests.
In the sphere of foreign relations, the steps taken by Azerbaijan
are producing positive results.
Over the past two years, Azerbaijan has decided to open 21 new
embassies. Azerbaijan will have 46 ambassadors abroad. Some of those 21
embassies have already opened and some will be inaugurated soon. What
does this mean? It means that Azerbaijan will carry out its policy
in a more comprehensive way. You probably feel it and we know that,
unfortunately, the international community is not well aware of
Azerbaijan’s realities. There is lack of information and in some
cases we face an information blockade because the Armenian lobby of
the world acts against us. It employs all means available to blacken
Azerbaijan, to present the events in Azerbaijan in an unfavourable
light, and thus isolate Azerbaijan. This also happens. However, there
is simple ignorance as well. Hence, the opening of the embassies,
an active foreign policy of Azerbaijan and the strengthening of the
diaspora introduces Azerbaijan to the international community the
way Azerbaijan is.
[Passage omitted: continues in the same vain, urges the diaspora
to help]
Economy
Azerbaijan has achieved economic successes as well over the recent
years. Our country has achieved much in this regard. Our economy is
growing at the highest rate in the world. Economic growth totalled
26 per cent in 2005, which is the highest figure in the world. The
industrial potential went up by 33 per cent in Azerbaijan in 2005,
which is also the highest rate in the world. The income of the
population increased by 27 per cent in 2005. Over the past two years
and a half, 340,000 new jobs have been created in Azerbaijan which
helps reduce unemployment.
The poverty level in Azerbaijan was 49 per cent two years ago,
but dropped to 29 per cent by the end of 2005. This is still a high
figure. I have said that. Why should Azerbaijani citizens live in
poverty? After becoming president I set a task that there should not
be a single poor person in Azerbaijan and we will achieve that. I
am certain that the work which will be done in 2006 will result in
a sharp fall in the poverty rate in Azerbaijan.
A regional development programme in Azerbaijan is being carried out
rapidly. Our capital Baku is also developing rapidly. At the same time,
the provinces are developing very fast. New electric power stations,
gas pipelines, roads, water pipelines, all the municipal and industrial
infrastructure are being renewed.
[Passage omitted: New hospitals and schools are being constructed in
various districts of Azerbaijan; economic growth to continue]
Oil strategy
At the initiative of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan is implementing its
oil strategy. Oil is a great wealth, a natural resource. However, it
only serves the nation after it is extracted from the sea bed and is
exported to the world markets. This was the essence of Azerbaijan’s
oil strategy: to attract foreign investment, to create a favourable
investment climate in Azerbaijan and to bring major oil companies
to Azerbaijan. This is the case today. Oil production is growing
in Azerbaijan by the year and an oil fund has been set up. [The oil
fund] is a transparent organization. Each citizen of Azerbaijan knows
how much money has been accumulated in the State Oil Fund because
information in this regard is being released regularly. We certainly
need this transparency. Everybody must know what the country has and
how it is spent. Public control must be very strict, especially at
this stage when Azerbaijan is to receive larger financial inflows.
The oil strategy of Azerbaijan is being implemented successfully. The
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is under construction and will be
put into operation this year. The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline
will be put into operation in 2006. Our energy resources will be
delivered to the European and international markets. First of all,
this is going to bring us a large economic benefit. This will allow
us to develop and modernize our country to the highest level. On
the other hand, and there can be no doubts about it, Azerbaijan’s
positions in the region, on the continent and in the world will become
stronger. Because Azerbaijan is turning into a very important country
for the European and international consumers and this increases our
strength, our importance, increases the significance of our opinion
and serves our interests.
These giant projects, which will be completed this year, will also
have a very positive impact on the processes in the region because
the trends of regional development are already very clear.
Armenia isolated from regional projects
In the context of the region’s development, Azerbaijan is playing
a very active role: it takes part in all regional projects and is
the initiator of many of them. No political, energy, economic or
transport project can be implemented in the region without our
participation. Azerbaijan is a bridge that connects Asia with
Europe. We are now building up our transport infrastructure. New
airports are being built in various towns. New highways are being
constructed. Large sums are invested in our sea transport and
railway. In a nutshell, the transport sector will have a very big
role in the future.
Our other important regional project is connected with this. To link
Turkey and Azerbaijan with a railway, to launch the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railway is one of the main tasks now and we will achieve that.
[Loud applause make Ilham Aliyev interrupt his speech]
It will link Turkey and Azerbaijan with a railway, this route will be
used for all [railway] freight. At the same time, and this is clear,
Armenia, which has attacked us and occupied our territories, will be
left outside of all these projects. We can never allow the country
which has occupied our lands to take part in regional cooperation
together with us.
[Another round of applause]
We have isolated Armenia from all regional projects.
[Applause]
Because no international project can work without our
participation. These regional projects do not just serve the interests
of Azerbaijan or those of its neighbours. In a broader sense, they
are globally important projects. Azerbaijan’s role will continue to
increase and this is our goal. We want Azerbaijan to become a strong
country. We want the Azerbaijani people to live well and in peace
and enjoy prosperity. We want good relations with all our neighbours,
we want to maintain stability and cooperation in the region. This is
the goal of our policy. We can see positive results and successes in
all spheres. I am sure that these trends will go on even faster.
Social issues
Much attention is paid to social issues as well. Our budget grows
by the year. Azerbaijan has completely built its economy on the
basis of free markets and the private sector accounts for around
75 per cent of the GDP. This is a very high figure if we take into
consideration that oil and gas form a major part of our GDP and are
monopolized by the state. This shows that the Azerbaijani economy
has been liberalized, entrepreneurship is developing very fast, the
private sector is developing and the principles of market economy
have been firmly entrenched in Azerbaijan.
Yet, if you look at the structure of the Azerbaijan budget, you will
see that it is social-oriented. That is, the major part of the budget
is channelled into social projects: wages, pensions, social benefits,
humanitarian spending, education, health care and other spheres.
[Passage omitted: says the economy must be liberal but the living
standards of the Azerbaijani people are very important]
I am responsible before the nation and therefore I should try not to
allow the Azerbaijani people, any citizen [of Azerbaijan] to be in
need or face problems.
[Applause]
A sharp drop in the poverty rate and eradication of unemployment serve
to this end. Hence, social issues are very important in our work and
more funds will be invested in that.
[Passage omitted: Azerbaijani refugees need more assistance]
Karabakh talks going on for too long
After the liberation of our territory from occupation we will found
new towns because on the occupied territories all buildings have been
destroyed. The Armenian barbarians have destroyed all buildings,
cemeteries, mosques, schools and historical memorials there. This
is barbarism. After we liberate our lands we will restore them. Our
economy will allow us to do that.
As you know, the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over Nagornyy
Karabakh has not been resolved for many years. True, the talks are
continuing, and after establishing a cease-fire there have been
stages in the negotiations when the sides were close to reaching an
agreement. However, the conflict eventually remains unresolved.
Over the past 12 years we have shown loyalty to the peace talks
despite the failed attempts to resolve the conflict. There has been a
cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the past 12 years. We
are taking part in the talks because we are still hoping to achieve
results. But how long will this continue? This process cannot go
on forever.
[Applause]
The patience of the Azerbaijani people and authorities is being
tested. We are loyal to the peace process. Our participation in the
peace talks once again confirmed our resolve to settle the problem not
militarily, but peacefully. We have channeled all our efforts into
this. If we see that Armenia’s position at the talks is insincere
and not constructive, if we see the international community being
deceived and misinformed by Armenia, we will have no choice. For
how long will we be taking part in the peace process? I have said
that we will take part in the process until the last opportunity,
until the last challenge, as long as we feel that there is still a
possibility. Azerbaijan will not participate in the talks for the
sake of talks.
Karabakh never to separate from Azerbaijan
This conflict can only be resolved within the framework of
international law. Historically, Nagornyy Karabakh is an Azerbaijani
territory and has always belonged to Azerbaijan. Armenians came there
only in the middle of the 19th century. A monument erected in 1978 in
Nagornyy Karabakh symbolized the migration of Armenians to Nagornyy
Karabakh and it was a proof of this. Armenians later destroyed the
monument. Armenians came to our lands as guests. Then they became the
majority and started separatist tendencies. This aggressive separatism
and the aggressive policy of Armenia have resulted in the invasion
of the Azerbaijani territory.
The norms of international law must be the same for everyone. Nobody
can be an exception or have a privilege. International legal norms
require that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity be restored. The
entire world recognizes our territorial integrity, the UN and all
[international] organizations recognize it. Therefore, it must be like
that. The occupying forces of Armenia must withdraw from the occupied
territories. Azerbaijani citizens must return to their native lands,
including to Nagornyy Karabakh. Normal relations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan can be restored only after this. Only then will the peace
process be possible.
[Applause]
We will not allow Nagornyy Karabakh to be separated from Azerbaijan
today, tomorrow, in a decade or in a century.
[Applause]
We are the victims of the conflict. Armenia had carried out an ethnic
cleansing policy against us for which it should answer before the
international community.
[Applause]
We give them an opportunity: if they agree to constructive proposals,
if they agree to a new framework proposed by the [OSCE] Minsk Group,
if they sincerely take part in the Prague process, then the security
of Armenians living Nagornyy Karabakh will be ensured.
[Passage omitted: National minorities need autonomy not independence]
Karabakh autonomy possible
An autonomy is possible and the existing positive international
expertise should be applied to this conflict as well. I repeat that
this is our principled stance and we will never give up on it.
It is also a reality, however, that the cease-fire regime has been
there for 12 years and the conflict remains unresolved. What should
we do in this case? Consultations are under way in this regard in the
Azerbaijani government. If we see that the peace process is being
undermined by Armenia and if this is the case, then, of course,
Azerbaijan will have to reconsider its participation in the peace
process.
Azeri military expenditure to equal Armenia’s budget
Along with developing our economy we are also building up our
army. Over the past years we have paid much attention to this
sphere. Azerbaijan’s military budget is increasing year by year. It
increased by 70 per cent in 2005 compared to 2004. It went up by 100
per cent, that is, it doubled in 2006. It will increase further in
2007. Our military budget equals 600m dollars now. I consider it my
duty to make our military expenditure equal Armenia’s entire budget
in the near future.
[Applause]
Armenia will never be able to compete with Azerbaijan and the sooner
the Armenian authorities realize that, the better for them. Azerbaijan
is developing.
[Passage omitted: International organizations support Azerbaijan’s
position on the Nagornyy Karabakh issue]
Economically, the gap between Armenia and Azerbaijan will further
widen. The main objective of our economic programmes is to strengthen
our economic potential in a very short period in order to have
stronger positions on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Without it,
without economic growth, without stronger fiscal discipline, without
bold economic reforms in Azerbaijan, then where from will we fill this
budget? How will we be able to spend so much on the army? Therefore,
economic potential is on our side and our budget and military spending
will continue to grow by the year.
Karabakh settlement to benefit Armenia
The second aspect of the issue, which concerns the stronger positions
of Azerbaijan in the world, especially some regional conflicts and
problems in terms of energy resources, has introduced Azerbaijan to
the world as an alternative exporter of energy.
Whereas two years ago we only defined some directions during talks with
European countries and the negotiations were of theoretic nature, the
talks now are practical. Azerbaijan’s oil and gas will be transported
to Europe now and the two sides are very interested in this. As a
country, Armenia can in no way compete with Azerbaijan. The latter
has been isolated from all regional projects because we have isolated
them. Armenia’s potential to develop is very limited and, in effect,
it is zero. There are no investments, the population is emigrating,
poverty is rife. Its occupying policy and unfounded claims will have
a negative impact on Armenia itself.
[The resolution of the] Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, restoration of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity will help the Armenian people
as well. They too can end this situation, they too can take part in
regional processes and can be normal neighbours of [other] countries.
With which of its neighbours does Armenia have good relations? With
none of them. Azerbaijan has open and sincere relations with all
of its neighbours because we are open to cooperation, we do not
secretly sabotaging anyone and we are not involved in separatism. On
the contrary, Azerbaijan is the home of all peoples living in the
country. Azerbaijan is a multiethnic country and followers of various
religions live here as a family. Azerbaijan has never and will never
experience problems on neither ethnic, nor religious grounds. This
is our strategic line. All peoples, all religions live as a family
in Azerbaijan.
Look at Armenia. It is a monoethnic country, no other people can
live there. Under the Soviet Union the Armenians accounted for 90
per cent of the population and now the figure is more than 99 per
cent. People of other nationalities cannot live there. They must end
this policy. This policy is leading them to a precipice.
[Passage omitted: Azerbaijan must develop its potential and diaspora
must help that]