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Conference on â€˜Azerbaijan-2020: new targets of developmentâ€™ kicks off in Baku - UPDATED - PHOTOSESSION

Conference on â€˜Azerbaijan-2020: new targets of developmentâ€™ kicks off in Baku - <font color=red>UPDATED - PHOTOSESSION</font>

05 May 2012 12:02 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports that the event, organized by then New Azerbaijan Party, is dedicated to the 89th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev. The graves of Heydar Aliyev and Zarifa Aliyeva were visited before the event.

The event is attended by Chief-of-Staff of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ramiz Mehdiyev, state and government officials, MPs.

Delivering keynote speech at the conference, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Ali Ahmadov noted that Azerbaijan set new targets. These targets have been determined by the head of state in a form of single strategy.

Chief-of-Staff of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ramiz Mehdiyev said Azerbaijan passed through the period full of challenges, rough stages. Political crisis took place in Azerbaijan during 90s of last century, Armenian aggression caused serious problems in the country: â€˜The existing government could not manage the crisis. The country was left in chaos. Azerbaijan stood face to face with threat of loss of independence, unitary state system. Return of Heydar Aliyev to the government coincided with such rough periodâ€™.

Speaking about Heydar Aliyevâ€™s return to the government and his activity, Mehdiyev said that as a result of Aliyevâ€™s activity, it was possible to maintain sovereignty of Azerbaijan, pursue successful domestic and foreign policy, introduce the country at the international level and attract investments: â€˜Coordination of cross-cutting interests of the international forces in the region became possible thank to far-sighted policy of Heydar Aliyevâ€™.

â€˜Azerbaijan became into a developing country on several parameters. More than 40,000 enterprises were opened in the country during the 8 years, nearly 1 mln work places were opened, budget expenses rose 12 times, above $80 bln funds were invested in the countryâ€™s economy. Foreign trade turnover with 149 world countries made $36.3 bln.

â€˜As a result of this success, 2008-2009 global financial crisis passed by Azerbaijan. During this crisis period Azerbaijani economy showed durability. Currently, Azerbaijan takes the 1st place in the CIS and 51st place in the world for competitivenessâ€™, added Mehdiyev.

Mehdiyev stressed that Azerbaijan was already recognized as an area of intercultural dialogue in the world, became key word owner in the field of energy security: â€˜Today, rapidly changing, globalized world sees very complicated processes. All of these make us to establish new concept for the national development. The development concept of Azerbaijan, which will cover the period by 2020, is an important document from this viewpoint. The main purpose of the concept â€“ to protect national interests of Azerbaijan in the background of global changes in the world.

Mehdiyev said 2020th year concept of Azerbaijan is under development. State bodies, civil societies have been involved in the process. During the 8 years to be covered by the concept it is considered to increase political, economic and military power of Azerbaijan. Intensification of Azerbaijanâ€™s activity at the international political level, provision of territorial integrity, branching of economy, development of non-state sector, reduce the factor of natural resources in the economy, improvement of populationâ€™s social condition, and etc, will be reflected in the concept.

The event continued its work in sections.