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achieving successes.
The social reforms are also being conducted. A commission for the conduction
of reforms in medicine has been established, the proposals have been submitted,
and soon respective decisions will be adopted. Proposals on education have also
been prepared. The Ministry of Labour and Social Maintenance of Population is
implementing programs into life. Many gret things are being done in other spheres.
Our main goal is to develop democracy and market economy in Azerbaijan.
All our reforms yield positive results. You also witness positive changes in the
economy of Azerbaijan. The congratulation of the International Operating Company
was read here. AIOC invested USD 1,2 billion in our economy. A few days ago the
drilling rig «Istiglal» was put into operation. Another consortium spent USD 20
million for the renovation of that drig. Additionally, a lot of people are employed in
these companies. It demonstrates the economic development of Azerbaijan.
It is true that we still have economic diffi culties. There are people living in poverty
and people who have become refugees. Their situation is very hard. It is because of
the transitional period. This period is not easy. I believe that our policy is improving
our economy and the welfare of our people.
Some say that 90-95 percent of the population of Azerbaijan live in poverty. Our
visitors see that the people live well here. Of course, there are also people living in
poverty. We help them. Minister of Labour and Social Maintenance of Population
Ali Nagiyev informed about the increase of pensions. There are over one million
pensioners in Azerbaijan. Salaries are also being increased. Some say as if the men-
of-art and culture receive the least salary. But we increase and shall increase their
salaries.
However, we need to increase our revenues in order to implement all our reforms.
At the same time, it is not good to claim that the welfare of the population of
Azerbaijan is very bad.
Our biggest problems are the restoration of our territorial integrity and improvement
of conditions of the refugees. I express my respect especially to the mothers of the
martyrs and the women living in hard conditions as refugees. These are the problems
I pay attention. I always strive to liberate our occupied territories and return the
refugees home. We shall achieve it.
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Before coming here I met the representatives of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group
of OSCE. As you are aware, OSCE established the so-called Minsk Group in 1992
in order to solve the Armenian-Azerbaijani confl ict peacefully. The summits of
OSCE were held in Budapest in 1994, in Lisbon in 1996. There we could achieve
some useful documents on the solution of the problem. Currently the co-chairs of
the Minsk Group are Russia, the USA and France. They try to achieve a peaceful
solution of the confl ict.
Recently there was a break in their activity. Yesterday they visited Azerbaijan.
Today I had a meeting with them, which lasted more than two hours. We support
the peaceful solution of the confl ict. That`s why we reached a ceasefi re agreement
in 1994. This ceasefi re regime has been lasting for four years. Some critisize it.
But I stopped the war. There is no more blood, no more losses. Some territories
of Azerbaijan have been occupied, because of the people who criticize me, many
people had to leave their homes.
Today in my meeting with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group I stated once more
that this problem must be solved peacefully. It is necessary to establish peace. The
war can not continue eternally. Each war has an end. Azerbaijan does not want the
outbreak of war.
However, there are some strict principles I support. They were adopted at the
Lisbon summit in 1996: the occupied territories must be liberated, the Armenian
armed forces must be withdrawn from them, the displaced persons must return
home. The Nagorno-Karabakh may be granted a high self-administrative status
within Azerbaijan. Long-lasting and reliable peace must be established between
Azerbaijan and Armenia. We support the peaceful solution of the confl ict on the
conditions mentioned above. We shall never agree to grant the Nagorno-Garabagh
independence. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan can not be violated. We shall
not yield an inch of our territory to anybody.
We negotiate on these principles. I think that we can solve the confl ict peacefully
via negotiations. I watch TV programs. Two weeks ago I met the representatives
of the displaced persons. They live in hard conditions, mostly in tents, but they can
understand the situation and endure all the diffi culties. I thank all our refugees for
their patience.
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But the opposition could never endure these diffi culties. They live in luxury on
the account of income from unknown sources. They do not meet refugees, but have
big claims.
The liberation of the occupied territories and restoration of the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan are our primary tasks. We shall achieve these tasks.
The democratization is being successfully implemented in Azerbaijan. The fi rst
democratic Constitution was adopted, the democratic parliamentary elections were
held. Soon there will be presidential elections. Effective laws have been adopted
or are being implemented in order to hold democratic elections. However, some
opposition and extremist forces try to break the stability and create chaos in
Azerbaijan like in 1991-1993.
It is a pity. But I am not surprised. Because some opposition forces do not need
democracy, independence and stability. They want to make chaos and turmoils.
But it is no longer possible. The Azerbaijani people and I, as President, will
never let chaos emerge again. Just remember the June of 1993. A civil war broke in
Azerbaijan then. Some people in the power escaped then.
For fi ve years we have been doing our best in order to stabilize the situation in
Azerbaijan. We have had a stability for the recent three years. But those people are
still hiding or making provocations. They want to create chaos, because the next
elections will demonstrate that the democratization is under way in Azerbaijan.
They wanted to organize a meeting on August 15. We have nothing against it. The
Constitution of Azerbaijan defi nes the right of people to assemble. But they have to
obey the rules. The opposition organized a meeting in Motodrom on August 15. But
their claims are not accepted by the society.
They want to violate the stability through organizing meetings. The city authorities
declared that the suitable place for meetings is Motodrom. But the opposition wants
to assemble in Azadlig Square. Why there? Azerbaijan has its own laws. I shall
never let anybody violate the laws of Azerbaijan and stability here.
But the opposition still wants to hold a meeting in Azadliq Square. It is declared
that Azadlig Square is the place for the national event. Not everyone can organize
a meeting there. There is a place for meetings, which is Motodrom. I shall organize
our meeting there, too. The parties initiated my candidacy, want to organize my
In the Name of the Azerba ani Woman
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