(MENAFN- AzerNews) - Dear fellow compatriots!
A year ago, in my New Year address to the Azerbaijani people, I
expressed my confidence that the year 2022 would be a successful
year for our country. That is precisely what happened. We have
accomplished all our objectives, and Azerbaijan has become even
stronger, Azernews reports.
We have further secured our historic victory achieved two years
ago on the battlefield on a Political level too. This October,
Armenia officially recognized the territorial integrity and
sovereignty of our country at the meetings in Prague and Sochi. I
believe we now have all the prerequisites to sign a peace treaty
with Armenia, which is possible based on the well-known five
principles proposed by Azerbaijan.
This year, we further strengthened our military power. This
particular area has always received much attention, and Azerbaijan
demonstrated its military power during the Second Karabakh War.
Over the past two years since the war, we have strengthened our
military potential thanks to implementing reforms, creating new
armed units, and supplying our army with advanced weaponry and
equipment.
Several military operations conducted this year once again
proved the high combat readiness of our army. Operation Farrukh,
Operation Revenge, and the military clashes along Azerbaijan's
border with Armenia in September this year brought us another
brilliant victory. As a result of the border clashes, Azerbaijan
has gained a foothold in many strategically advantageous
positions.
Well ahead of schedule, on August 26, we liberated Lachin and
returned to the villages of Zabukh and Sus in the Lachin district.
This is an outstanding achievement as well. There are extensive
construction and restoration works going on in Lachin. I am sure
that in 2023 we will ensure the return of the people of Lachin, the
first former displaced persons to their native lands.
At the same time, this year, life was restored in the village of
Aghaly. The first project was over, and the natives of Zangilan
returned to their homeland. This is a historic accomplishment since
in less than two years after the war, actually in just a year and a
half, we have ensured the return of the first former displaced
persons to their native land and created excellent living
conditions for them. This demonstrates once again the strength of
our state, our steadfastness, and the dignity of our nation. This
shows that our citizens are connected to their ancestral lands. As
the saying goes, there's no place like home. Even the youth,
children and schoolchildren, who have never seen these places, have
returned to Aghaly with great enthusiasm. This once again shows the
dignity of our nation. It shows that the internally displaced
persons are impatiently waiting for the day of return.
The Great Return program is being successfully implemented.
There are large-scale construction works going on in a number of
cities. First and foremost, large-scale construction is taking
place in Shusha. In parallel, they are building hospitals, schools
and residential buildings in Aghdam, Fuzuli, Zangilan and Lachin.
Master plans of more than ten villages and towns have already been
approved, and I have personally laid the foundation of several of
them. The master plans of all the liberated towns and villages have
been developed and approved. All of the work will be implemented in
line with these master plans. All of our plans are reflected in the
Great Return program. I am confident that hundreds of thousands of
former displaced persons will return to their homeland in the
nearest future.
In parallel, demining of the liberated territories is underway.
Unfortunately, Armenia has not provided us with the minefield maps.
As a result, some 300 Azerbaijanis were killed or seriously injured
in minefields during the post-war period.
This year we opened an international airport in Zangilan. This
is the second airport in the liberated territories, and the third
one will be commissioned in two years maximum.
Large-scale work is underway on opening the Zangezur Corridor,
with railways and motor roads being constructed. The Zangezur
Corridor will definitely be opened, whether Armenia wants it or
not. We demonstrate our firm commitment, and everything is going
according to the plan. Our demand is reasonable and just. We must
and will have a communication line with the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic, which is an integral part of Azerbaijan.
Our historical buildings on the liberated lands, including
mosques, are undergoing substantial restoration and reconstruction.
I had already mentioned that Armenians completely destroyed 65 of
67 mosques during the occupation. The restoration, in fact, the
reconstruction of these mosques, has already begun. The mosques
that need repair are being repaired. I should mention that the
Heydar Aliyev Foundation plays the leading role in constructing and
overhauling our religious monuments. Almost all mosques are
restored at the expense of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Indeed, we need a solid economy to make all these achievements
possible. We have long become a nation that is independent
economically. Today Azerbaijan is one of the few countries, which
is independent both economically and politically. This year's
economic performance in the post-pandemic period is satisfactory.
For example, our economy has grown by about 5%, with the non-oil
sector growth recorded at more than 9%. At the same time, our GDP
this year reached a record $130 billion. This is a historic
achievement. In parallel, our foreign debt has been significantly
reduced. A few years ago, I set a goal for the government to reduce
our foreign debt to less than 10% of the GDP. Last year it was 17%,
the latest figures for this year show the rate of 9.5%. By
comparison, in some developed countries, the volume of foreign debt
is 100, 120, or even 150% of the GDP. In other words, we have
ensured complete independence from international financial
institutions.
Of course, we hope that international donor organizations will
also pay attention to us, for history has never witnessed such
great destruction. Azerbaijan has faced a tremendous environmental
catastrophe, an urbicide. Regrettably, international donor
organizations have not provided us with a single manat or dollar.
It is not only about donor organizations; no one helps us. We carry
out and will continue to do all the restoration works on our
own.
There have been many significant developments in the energy
sector this year. In mid-2022, the Memorandum on Strategic
Partnership in the field of Energy was signed between Azerbaijan
and the European Union, which is already being implemented.
Azerbaijan is increasing its natural gas exports to global markets.
On December 17, we launched yet another new megaproject. An
electricity cable under the Black Sea will allow Azerbaijan to play
a more significant role in this area. Azerbaijan will become the
primary supplier of electricity, which will be green energy. I have
said several times that Karabakh and East Zangezur should become a
green energy zone. We are already achieving this and will continue
in the same vein. Azerbaijan's primary renewable energy sources are
of great importance to our country and the world. I have recently
announced that the potential of Azerbaijan's proven renewable
energy sources is 184,000MW. 157,000MW of this volume is located in
the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. This will make our
country an indispensable partner in the energy sector.
Traditionally, we attach great importance to the regional
development program. This year, I made 30 visits to the regions of
Azerbaijan, including 21 visits to the liberated territories.
I declared this year a Year of Shusha. We held large-scale
celebrations to mark the 270th anniversary of Shusha. The next year
has been declared a Year of Heydar Aliyev. Next year we will
celebrate the centennial anniversary of National Leader Heydar
Aliyev. Our greatest tribute to the memory of Heydar Aliyev is our
commitment to his path. We are committed to following in his
footsteps. Our realities, successes and victories are the
foundation of this path.
Today is the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis. As always,
I sincerely salute all our compatriots worldwide and wish them
success. They know that behind them stands a strong, independent
state of Azerbaijan. I am sure that Azerbaijanis living abroad
today are rightfully proud that they are children of independent
and victorious Azerbaijan.
The International Congress of World Azerbaijanis held this year
in Shusha was indeed a historical event. Holding the congress in
Shusha had a great symbolic value. Just like the Azerbaijani
society and citizens of Azerbaijan have come together as a single
fist, I am confident that our compatriots all over the world, an
absolute majority of them, will also follow the same approach.
Either way, they can rely on the support of a strong
Azerbaijan.
Dear fellow compatriots!
I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of the New Year and
the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis. I wish you robust
health and luck.
Happy holidays!
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