Exclusive interview of Ilham Aliyev to Azerbaijani television

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to Azerbaijani Television in the city of Salyan.
Mr. President, you regularly visit all regions of Azerbaijan, get to know the work being done and development processes on the spot, give your recommendations and tasks. Today you visited Neftchala and Salyan regions. Please share your impressions about the trip.
My impressions are very positive. As you said, I often visit the regions of Azerbaijan. As you know, since 2004, the State programs for socio-economic development of regions have been implemented in Azerbaijan. Currently, the 4th program is being implemented. As a result of the implementation of these programs, very large-scale construction works were carried out in the regions. These works are continued. My visits to the regions are also a means of control, i.e., how the tasks given by me are carried out, at the same time, further tasks and recommendations are given, so that all the goals we have declared – first of all, the improvement of people’s well-being, the creation of infrastructure facilities, including social infrastructure ensure that related works are carried out in the regions. In a word,
Today’s trip is also a traditional trip. I have visited Salyan and Neftchala regions several times in the past, and the events I took part in during this trip are an indicator in themselves. Also a wonderful “ASAN service” center, this is the 25th center in number. The “ASAN service” system is already known in the world as an Azerbaijani brand and is not only highly appreciated by the country’s population, but I must also say that the services provided in the “ASAN service” centers are welcomed by the population and the approval rate is 99.8 percent. I don’t know if there is another such service that is liked by so many people and at the same time, several countries in the world are already implementing the ASAN model. We provide methodical support to these countries. During the last years, that is, during 10 years, there were 61 million applications. I mean, the creation of this service was a real revolution in the field of public services, a turning point, and now more than 300 services are provided. Thus, “ASAN service” is an example of us, including our intellectual product, and at the same time, we are already exporting intellectual products.
Other measures also indicate that great things have been done. For example, the Olympic Sports Complex, a children’s hospital, a maternity hospital, a digital control center for electricity supply, other measures, steps related to the creation of jobs, including the opening of a large fishery in Neftchala district – all this shows that our country is developing dynamically. does, social policy is successfully implemented. At the same time, infrastructural projects – today I participated in the opening of the road, and our initiatives related to the real sector of the economy, including jobs, our initiatives related to industrialization, our initiatives related to the production of export-oriented products, all these are being implemented and once again show the strength of our country. Again, today’s visit clarifies many points. I mean,
Large-scale and rapid restoration-reconstruction works are being carried out in the liberated territories – Karabakh and East Zangezur. A period of great revival has already begun in those areas. What can you say about these things?
These works are going according to plan. As you know, the restoration of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur is the main priority for us, and most of my visits to the regions are to those regions. However, I regularly go to other parts of our country. The works done in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur once again show that we, the owners of these lands, have returned to our ancestral lands. For thirty years, Armenia devastated these lands, did not leave a stone unturned, engaged in looting and robbery, and engaged in barbarism. We, the owners of these lands, have come to build and create. Therefore, as soon as the war ended, the work was started immediately. Currently, former settlers live in two settlements – in the villages of Agali and Talish. We see the face of future Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur as a whole in the example of these villages – prosperous cities, prosperous villages, infrastructure created on the basis of smart management principles. That is, all this is obvious. I say again, these two projects already show the entire population of Azerbaijan and the whole world what the future face of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur will be like.

Currently, infrastructure projects are being continued. Achievements achieved in 3 months of this year allow us to make additions to the budget. The government has already been instructed to conduct budget reconciliation and submit it to the Milli Majlis. First of all, 1.1 billion manats more than the forecast were collected within three months through the Tax Service. This was also a result of transparency, it was a result of new management. In the customs sector, the funds collected in addition to the forecast exceed 400 million manats. At present, the reforms carried out in the field of customs and the process of eliminating the shortcomings left in the previous periods are going on successfully. In just 3 months, 1.5 billion manats were collected in addition to the forecast. Of course, we have completed only three months of the year, until the end of the year, of course, this number will increase.
In general, I think that the additions to the budget will be at least 3 billion manats, and may be more. The main part of it will be used in the reconstruction of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. In second place will be our military spending. Because there is a great need for it. Everyone is watching the processes going on in the world. Threats are increasing in the world, dangers are increasing. It is true that we crushed the enemy’s head and achieved a great Victory in the Second Karabakh War. However, revanchist forces are rising again in Armenia, we must be ready for any situation and create such an army that will be exemplary on a world scale and be one of the strongest armies. Even today, the Azerbaijani Army is strong. We have shown our strength on the battlefield. We showed the strength, will, and indomitable spirit of the Azerbaijani people on the battlefield, and at the same time,
During the two and a half years after the war, a lot of attention was paid to the issues of army building. I can say with full confidence that today’s Azerbaijani Army is much stronger than the same Azerbaijani Army that won in 2020. But, at the same time, I want to say again, we have to be ready for every situation at any moment. Therefore, in this field, all issues related to the building of the army and our defense potential are the main task, this task and the task of restoring Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. Therefore, we will direct the main funds to these directions, and other necessary expenses will be carried out. That is, it shows once again that, you know, now in many places around the world there is an economic crisis, a political crisis,
The public is regularly informed about the work going on in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. I must inform you that all the projects related to the implementation of infrastructure projects, railways, highways, electricity supply, water supply, and reclamation measures are going according to plan. Two airports are already in operation, the third airport is under construction.
I said some time ago that we will return the former settlers to the city of Lachin by the end of this year. Well, today I can say with full confidence that we will achieve this in the summer months. That is, we are doing this work ahead of schedule, and if in the first stage we planned to build a little more than 400 houses in the city of Lachin, according to the latest information, according to our latest plans, the number of private houses will be only 570. At the same time, more than 140 apartments will be ready. In other words, we will accommodate more than 700 families in the summer months of this year in the city of Lachin. At the same time, work is underway in the villages of Zabukh and Sus, where the policy of illegal settlement is carried out. We will return the former settlers to those villages by the end of the year.
In parallel with this, the first residential complex is being successfully built in the city of Shusha. We will soon lay the foundation of the second large residential complex, that is, a project consisting of many houses. The construction of residential buildings in the cities of Agdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan is going according to plan, and preparatory work is being done in the cities of Kalbajar and Jabrayil. In parallel with this, schools, hospitals, social facilities, mosques – more than 10 mosques are being rebuilt or fundamentally renovated. More precisely, only two mosques are being renovated. Because all the remaining mosques were destroyed by the Armenians. See, our construction works are being carried out in this direction, and it shows once again that all our plans, all the goals we have declared are and will be reflected in life.
With your permission, our next question is related to peace negotiations with Armenia. What stage are the negotiations at now?
As you know, the initiatives put forward by Azerbaijan regarding negotiations are the main factor today. Because, despite the occupation, Armenian brutality, barbarism, it was Azerbaijan that proposed to sign a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and it was Azerbaijan that revealed the well-known five principles. These principles are the basic principles of norms and principles of international law. We have declared from the beginning that negotiations are possible and a peace treaty can be signed based on these principles, the sovereignty of countries, territorial integrity, inviolability of borders and other principles.
In the last two years, there have been various zigzags in the position of the Armenian side, that is, there have been various changes. As a result, it seems to us that Armenia agrees with our approach in principle. Because there is no other option. That is why Armenia officially accepted Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty at the Prague and Sochi meetings in October of last year. In other words, he accepted that the borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia should be resolved on the basis of the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991. What does it show? It also shows that the borders between the allied republics are considered state borders. Thus, by taking this official step, Armenia officially recognized Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan. Armenia, which used to say “Karabakh is Armenia and a point”, today must repeat our words “Karabakh is Azerbaijan and a rallying cry”. Because if “A” said, “B” should also say. Having shown its readiness for a peace treaty based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, Armenia should now officially declare that Karabakh is Azerbaijan.
I believe that the progress of the case shows this, because there is no other way. We have repeatedly stated that we will not discuss our internal affairs with any country. Karabakh is our internal matter. Armenians living in Karabakh should either accept Azerbaijani citizenship or find another place to live. Here there is complete freedom, all democratic fundamentals are offered. This issue should be resolved on the basis of human rights. Today, our actions show it, and our intention is to sign a peace agreement soon, to put an end to this conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
I must also state that during the two and a half years since the Second Karabakh War, Armenia, its patrons, and at the same time, the countries and forces that support it, have clearly seen our will, determination, and strength. I don’t want to list now, many important events took place during these two and a half years, both in the direction of the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border, and at the same time in the region under the control of Russia’s temporarily deployed peacekeeping forces. We have repeatedly shown that we are the owners of these lands and we will not allow anyone to play horses on our territory.
The separatists should also know that they have two choices: either they will live under the Azerbaijani flag or they will leave. We expelled Serjik Sargsyan, Robert Kocharyan, and Seyran Ohanyan, who are the main figures of the separatists, from Karabakh like chasing a dog, and brought them to their knees. They came to Karabakh during the Second Karabakh War, supposedly to fight with us. All three of them ran away from our land like rabbits, and now none of them can even poke their nose into Khankendi or any other place.
The separatists who are currently inventing fictitious names for themselves – one calls himself president, one calls himself minister, one calls himself speaker of parliament – this group of clowns must finally know that we cannot play with our patience. We have tried to explain to them many times in different ways that they will either abide by our word, or they will be rejected from there and they will leave the Armenians living there, who have become their hostages and prisoners. I am sure that the majority of the Armenian population currently living in Karabakh is ready to accept Azerbaijani citizenship. Simply put, these leeches, these predatory animals, do not leave the separatists. They don’t let these people live comfortably, they kept them as hostages for 30 years. Therefore, my position consists of this, let everyone hear it, both the Armenian leadership, and the forces behind them today, no one can influence our will. We have proven it, during the war and after the war. If necessary, we will prove it in any form.
A few days ago, an incident happened that once again showed the Armenian character. The National Flag of Azerbaijan was lit at the European Weightlifting Championship held in Armenia. What can you say in this regard?
I think that this is the next dirty act of the Armenian government. I take it that way. It happened by chance, not the act of some individual. This is the next dirty act of the Armenian government. There are many reasons for this. First, the humanoid creature who committed this incident is in direct contact with high-level officials of the ruling circles of Armenia. Secondly, no punishment was given to this creature, on the contrary, they make him a hero in Armenia. Allegedly, they detained him and released him a few minutes later. They made a show there, they welcomed him with applause, and no punishment or fine was imposed on this man. So what does this mean?
Such a despicable event is taking place in front of the political leadership of Armenia and there is no reaction to it. So, the power, government, state of Armenia is the author of this ugly act. But they should not forget where the flag of Azerbaijan is flying today. Today, the Azerbaijani flag flies in Karabakh. The Azerbaijani flag is flying in Agdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Gubadli, Kalbajar, Lachin, Shusha, Hadrut, Talish, Sugovushan, and hundreds of villages. Today, the Azerbaijani flag flies in the Zangezur mountains, let them not forget it. Can they approach that flag? Can that humanoid creature and his ilk approach those flags? They are afraid to look at that flag from afar. By burning the flag, they have only shown their ugly qualities to the whole world. I want to say again, behind this is the Armenian state, the Armenian government, the anti-Azerbaijani campaign conducted in Armenia, conducted for many years, carried out for decades, Azerbaijanphobia. This is not an ordinary event.
I also want to say that, of course, this incident cannot shake us, it cannot have any effect on our will. But let them think carefully. One day they can open their eyes and see the Azerbaijan Flag above their heads.
Mr. President, with your permission, we would like to address one more question related to this topic. In that championship held in Yerevan, female athletes from Turkey won gold and silver medals and dedicated them to Azerbaijan. You and Mrs. Mehriban congratulated them. We would like to know your thoughts on this.
Yes, Mrs. Mehriban and I congratulated our dear daughters Jansu and Gamza. First, because they achieved this great victory in Armenia – the enemy state, the state that is the eternal enemy of both Azerbaijan and Turkey, and raised the Turkish flag high. Armenians burned our flag, but the Turkish flag flew there. They played the National Anthem of Turkey. The National Anthem of Turkey sounded so that the ears of all the enemies sitting there must have been deafened. They dedicated this victory to Azerbaijan and the people of Azerbaijan. What a wonderful move. That’s why they won the love of the entire Azerbaijani people.
I want to congratulate them again. Today, when I was at the opening of the Neftchala Olympic Complex, I instructed the Minister of Youth and Sports to invite our daughters to Azerbaijan on my behalf and let them be our guests. This once again shows our unity, the Turkish-Azerbaijani unity and brotherhood is unshakable. We are one and in the congratulatory letter addressed to them, we also wrote that where the Turkish flag is, we are also there and all Armenia saw it. A miscreant burns our flag, the next day the glorious flag of the brotherly state of Turkey is raised over the heads of those enemies and they are forced to stand and listen to the National Anthem of Turkey.
I want to once again congratulate our beautiful girls. We are proud of them, and in fact, I think this event will go down in history, not only in the history of sports, but in the history of world politics as a whole, in the history of the Turkish world. Each of us, each child of the Turkic world, should be like Cansu and Gamza. This is my dream.
Thank you very much, thank you again for taking the time to answer our questions.