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Baku hosts conference on 20th anniversary of Azerbaijanâ€™s state independence â€“ UPDATED - PHOTOSESSION

Baku hosts conference on 20th anniversary of Azerbaijanâ€™s state independence â€“ <font color=red>UPDATED - PHOTOSESSION </font>

07 December 2011 09:25 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports that the MPs, governmental officials, diplomats, representatives of media organizations participate in the event.

In his speech, Head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev said that the 20 years are a very small period from the point of view of establishment and development of the state: â€œThe reforms were implemented as well as great work was conducted in Azerbaijan after restoration of state independence. Today we develop new development strategy of Azerbaijan. Now we are at the new phase of the development strategy. Azerbaijan, which is situated in the place where the geostrategic interests intersect, has always struggled for its independence. The war, political disorder, the occupation of our territories during the first years of independence, put Azerbaijanâ€™s future into question. The coming of national leader Heydar Aliyev into power saved Azerbaijan from these problemsâ€.

Mehdiyev underlined that Azerbaijanâ€™s power has increased for several times: â€œToday Azerbaijanâ€™s economy forms the 80% of the South Caucasusâ€™s economy. The strategy on turning of black gold into white gold is the basis of our countryâ€™s development. We know very well that the state caring for the human factor is a future development and security of the country. The state provides conditions for the growth in the economic activity. The improvement of living conditions of the people, the job security of the population is the main priorities of the state. Azerbaijan has been implementing political and economical reforms starting with 1993. By entering the Council of Europe in 2001, Azerbaijan turned into the active member of the European democratic familyâ€.

In his speech Mehdiyev also touched on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict: â€œThe main difficulty that we face is the military aggression of Armenia. How can it be that a country, which is a member of the international union, violate the territorial integrity of another country and has been keeping under occupation the territories of another country for 19 years? It is contrary to the decisions of the UN. Despite such situations, we observe the silence of the world union. One can not consider satisfactory the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group. These countries havenâ€™t done best in order to put an end to the occupational policy of Armenia. Armenia and Armenians are seriously protected backstageâ€.

Mehdiyev said that The Armenians, who were born and are living in Nagorno Karabakh, can use the rights given by Azerbaijani Constitution in correspondence with the obligations of Azerbaijan in front of the Council of Europe and UN: â€œArmeniaâ€™s occupational policy left it aside the regional projects, the countryâ€™s economy declined, people leave this countryâ€. Azerbaijan has been strengthening since 1994â€. According to him, the economic projects implemented in the region give an impetus to the regional cooperation: â€œAzerbaijan has turned into the leading force of the regional cooperation. It is an example of strong economy and national unionâ€.

In his speech, UN Development Programâ€™s Resident-Coordinator in Azerbaijan Fikret Akchura assessed our countryâ€™s election to the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council as a great success: â€œWith the successful implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project Azerbaijan passed from decent standard of living to the high standard of living. Only Azerbaijan achieved this high development from the post soviet countries. Azerbaijan has achieved many successes. The job security of the women has never been a problem. The number of women deputies in the Azerbaijani Parliament reached 16%. The unsettlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is still a problem here.

Akchura expressed sorrow for the failure to achieve progress in the settlement process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict: â€œDespite holding of many meetings for the conflictâ€™s settlement, no changing occurred. The international community has conducted less work for the settlement of the conflictâ€.

In his speech, Minister of Economic Development Shahin Mustafayev noted that the povert level will be reduced for 2 times till 2015. Mustafayev also poke about the successes achieved in the economy during the independence years.

The conference continues.