The President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev is celebrating his next birthday.
21 years of this glorious life have passed in the leadership of Azerbaijan.
It can be said with confidence that during the years of Ilham Aliyev's rule, modern Azerbaijan has undergone a fundamental transformation, has become a modern state, and has experienced the most powerful period in its history.
The greatest service of the head of state, of course, is related to the once-and-for-all resolution of the Karabakh issue, which has resulted in the violation of our territorial integrity for many decades and hindered our stable development, and the full restoration of our sovereignty.
Since his election as President in 2003, Ilham Aliyev has made the Karabakh issue, the country's number one problem, the main priority of his political activities and has worked tirelessly to resolve it on both the diplomatic and military fronts.
Paying special attention to army building, the head of state has achieved that both the material and technical equipment of our army and the combat capability of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have reached the highest level.
As a result of many years of activity, the April battles of 2016 and the Gunnut operation carried out in May 2018 revealed that Azerbaijan will not reconcile with Armenia's illegal occupation policy, will not accept plans to prolong the resolution of the issue and maintain the current status quo.
Finally, a 44-day counter-offensive operation, launched on September 27, 2020, against numerous provocations against our country, which went down in history as the Patriotic War, took place. Our army, under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, quickly broke through the defense line that the Armenian army had built on our lands for 30 years and liberated the cities of Jabrayil, Zangilan, Gubadli, Fuzuli, Shusha, and the Hadrut settlement. Armenia, which signed the act of capitulation on November 10, 2020, was forced to return Aghdam, Kalbajar, and Lachin to Azerbaijan without a fight, as a defeated country. The whole world witnessed Ilham Aliyev's tireless activity, political will, and foresight, both before the 44-day war, during the war, and after the great victory.
Ilham Aliyev, overcoming international pressure with diplomatic professionalism during the war, revealed Armenia's aggressive policy and actions to the whole world in an interview with nearly 30 international media outlets.
The Armenian forces, who had not learned from the "iron fist" of the Azerbaijani state, were crushed during a 23-hour operation carried out by our Army in September 2023, the Karabakh lands were completely cleared, and the city of Khankendi, Aghdara, Khojavend and Khojaly regions were returned to their rightful owners.
Thus, the first such event in world practice in the 21st century - a successful example of the complete elimination of a hotbed of separatism - was achieved in face of Azerbaijan.
The architect of these successes was the head of state Ilham Aliyev and the long-term logical policy he pursued.
During a conference held in Shusha in May 2023, the head of state also reminded the international community of his obligations in this regard: “We have done what the international community, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, should have done, we have implemented the Security Council resolutions.
Indeed, Azerbaijan has made a first in world politics, and created a new precedent - it has successfully implemented 4 resolutions of the UN Security Council that have not been implemented in 30 years.
Thus, President Ilham Aliyev kept his promise to liberate our lands when he was elected head of state in 2003.
Having put an end to 30 years of occupation, the Azerbaijani state now has another goal - the restoration of the liberated territories, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homelands, the implementation of extensive reconstruction and reconstruction work for this, and the reintegration of these territories into the country's economy...
Over the past 4 years, about $ 20 billion has been allocated to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan within the framework of the state program, and the process of returning former internally displaced persons to their homelands is continuing rapidly.
All social infrastructure facilities, roads, tunnels,and bridges are being built in the liberated territories, and new villages, settlements, and cities are being built. More than 30,000 people have already settled in the liberated territories.
All this is being carried out under the special supervision of the head of state, Ilham Aliyev. Under his leadership, “smart villages, smart cities” are being built in the territories liberated from occupation based on new approaches and modern solutions, and our lands, which have been groaning under the enemy’s feet for many years, are today turning into paradise. The president stated in one of his interviews that the construction of the liberated territories is one of the main goals: “We are covering all the expenses at our own expense, we have not received a single manat of aid from anywhere. Yes, we have invited foreign companies, but as contractors. All funds come from the state budget. This is a big burden for the state budget. Of course, but we are doing it, we will do it. As I said, we will turn Karabakh and East Zangazur into paradise”.
Today, the "smart village", "smart city" concepts, and "green energy" projects implemented in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions will play a model role in Azerbaijan's transition to an innovative economy in the future.
The resolution of the Karabakh issue, as well as the work carried out in the liberated lands, would not have been possible without a strong economy. The head of state has taken consistent, planned steps in these years to increase the political and economic power of our country.
Our country has been implementing energy projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, TANAP, TAP, and the Southern Gas Corridor for many years.
Located at the intersection of the main routes of the North-South and East-West transport corridors, Azerbaijan is today implementing the most convenient trade route connecting Asia and Europe - the Middle Corridor project, and important infrastructure projects such as the Baku International Sea Trade Port and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line are being implemented.
Our country, which has become an important transit route for international trade routes, also attaches special importance to the development of the non-oil sector and is confidently moving towards the transition to "green energy". In January-November 2024, the value of Azerbaijan's non-oil exports amounted to 3 billion 90.6 million US dollars. As a result, a record figure was recorded in the value of Azerbaijan's non-oil exports.
The words of the head of state on this subject years ago remain relevant today: "We have created a wonderful investment climate. We have been able to redirect oil capital to human capital. Some said that Azerbaijan was facing the "Dutch syndrome" and the "oil curse." None of this happened."
Thus, with the restoration of territorial integrity, the strongest army, and the largest economy in the region, Azerbaijan has become a regional leader and a country with the potential of a middle power.
Azerbaijan's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2012-2013, its successful chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) uniting more than 120 countries in 2019-2024, its giving new incentives and goals to the NAM's activities, it's successful hosting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) on November 11-22 of this year, and the adoption of a final document containing important solutions to the issue of financing humanity's fight against global climate change, reveals that the Azerbaijani state under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev is an influential and reliable country capable of influencing the international agenda.
The prestige, political stability, and economic progress of our country are also reflected in the changing, modernizing face of our capital and regions. As part of the extensive construction and construction work carried out in the capital, new parks are being built in place of buildings and structures that have expired and are dilapidated. In recent years, sufficient work has been done in Baku to create green spaces, create recreation areas, renew road infrastructure, and most importantly, for the comfort of city residents. “Ganjlik”, “Nizami Ganjavi”, Forest Park, Central and Winter Parks, “Chamberakand” Park, the reconstructed Central Botanical Park, and other parks under construction and restoration not only beautify Baku but also indicate special attention to urban planning.
Opening and repairing parks, preserving the original appearance of the historical center of Baku, such as the Old City, and creating new inner-city centers, such as the White City, are the products of an innovative approach in urban planning and architecture. The work done to demolish illegal buildings and objects that spoil the image of the city has turned the Azerbaijani capital into one of the most beautiful and comfortable cities in the world.
It is impossible to finish listing the works done during the presidency of Ilham Aliyev. To put it in one sentence, the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief celebrates his next birthday as the leader of a united, strong, innovative Azerbaijan, which is his creation.
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