CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 02/2018

LE MONDE AZERBAIJAN
President Ilham Aliyev
Celebrating centennial of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
with remarkable achievements
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, İlham Aliyev.
On May 28th the people of Azerbaijan proudly
commemorate the centennial of the Azerbaijan
Democratic Republic (ADR). May 28 of 1918 is the day
of declaration of independence by the first Republic
of Azerbaijan and is officially observed as the
Republic Day.
At that time, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was
destined to live as an independent State for only 23
months during the years 1918-1920. Over such a
short-lived period of time it has achieved remarkable
progress in the political, economic and social spheres
and has entered into world history as the first secular,
democratic State in the whole Islamic East.
ADR’s Declaration of Independence proclaimed,
inter alia, guarantees of civil rights and liberties to all
its citizens irrespective of nationality, religious
affiliation, gender or ethnic background – the ideals
that the people of Azerbaijan cherish today. Due to
actively pursued foreign policy ADR was able to
establish diplomatic relations with 16 countries.
The National Council (Parliament) of ADR
operated for just 17 months, but was able to adopt
around 230 legislative acts, including the law granting
women to the right to vote and to participate in the
political life of the country, much earlier than many
European nations.
Throughout the past century the people of
Azerbaijan preserved its determination to restore its
statehood and independence – the goal it attained in
1991.
Today, the Republic of Azerbaijan is a modern,
secular and independent State proud of its history
and looking into the future with great aspirations,
firm on its road to development as a vibrant,
multicultural society.
The people of Azerbaijan commemorate the
centennial of ADR with remarkable achievements.
Azerbaijan’s success today is an outcome of
comprehensive reform programme implemented over
the past decades. The economic figures for 2017
speak volumes.
The development of non-oil sector of the
economy is the priority of the Government. Over the
last year the non-oil sector of the economy grew by
2.7 per cent, the non-oil sector in industry by 3.7 per
cent and in agriculture by 4.1 per cent.
Azerbaijan invests heavily in building its transport
and transit potential and implements a number of
large-scale infrastructure projects in the country and
across the region along the East-West and
North-South axes. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway
successfully commissioned last year connected the
growing Asian markets with consumers in Europe and
vice versa. Over the past years, Azerbaijan built 6
international airports, 11,000 kilometers of modern
highways and roads. Azerbaijan has the biggest trade
fleet in the Caspian Sea with 270 vessels.
Azerbaijan contributes to the energy security of
Europe and is a substantial contributor to – and
enabler of – the Southern Gas Corridor, which will
bring alternative gas supply to the European market.
Another priority sector is telecommunication.
Implementation of the State program on establishment
and development of space industry in
Azerbaijan gave additional impetus to the development
of this sphere. With launching of two
telecommunication and earth observation satellites
“Azerspace” and “Azersky” our country joined the
world’s space club. Third satellite “Azerspace-2” will
be launched soon.
Particular attention is given to strengthening of
the industrial base of Azerbaijan with focus on fuel
and energy, chemistry, mechanical engineering,
metallurgy, food industry, light industry and other
areas. The main objective of the state policy in the
field of industry for the medium term is ensuring of
steady and rapid production growth, structural
improvement and increasing efficiency. The main
activities include modernization and reconstruction of
industrial sites, increasing the competitiveness of
national products and development of the processing
industry. There are five industrial parks the Sumgait
Chemical Industrial Park, industrial parks in Garadagh,
Balakhany, Mingachevir and Pirallakhi settlements, as
well as Neftchala, Hajigabul and Masalli industrial
districts, in Azerbaijan. This is underpinned by our
policy and the confidence of foreign and local
investors, because investment is made only in stable
countries. According to the Davos Forum, we are
ranked in 35th place in the world in terms of
economic competitiveness.
A drastic reduction of poverty and unemployment
is a testimony that we are on the right track. The
level of poverty in Azerbaijan is 5.4 percent and the
level of unemployment is 5 percent. In the last 15
years our population grew by 1.5 million people.
Therefore, creating jobs for us is a permanent
process. Last year alone we created 177,000
permanent jobs.
Particular attention has been paid to good
economic governance through improving legislative
framework and regulatory system, protection of
investment, elimination of bureaucratic obstacles
simplifying customs procedures and creating tax
incentives. A number of steps have been taken to
streamline procedures, making it easier to incorporate
and register a new business in Azerbaijan, including
by introducing e-registry and simplifying licensing
procedures for entrepreneurs. The Government has
been implementing large-scale programmes for
strengthening the rule of law, providing facilitated
access to public services. Azerbaijan is proud to have
created its national brand – ASAN Service – an
innovative national model of public service delivery,
where numerous services by government agencies are
delivered in an efficient and transparent way from
PHOTOS: NAMIK, AZERTAG – ASERBAIDSCHANISCHE STAATLICHE NACHRICHTENAGENTUR, İRS ZEITSCHRIFT, LYOKIN
one-stop shops throughout the country, called ASAN
Service centres.
I consider that high voters turnout and my
reelection to the next term in office as the President
as vote of confidence of the people of Azerbaijan to
reform program of my government.
Apart from connecting geographically Europe and
Asia due to its strategic geographic location in the
Caucasus isthmus, our nation’s deep-rooted traditions
of multiculturalism and tolerance, manifested in
peaceful coexistence of Muslims, orthodox Christians,
Catholics and Jews, makes Azerbaijan a cultural
bridge between various civilizations – the role widely
recognized throughout the world. The 7th Global
Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, successfully
held in Baku in 2016, is one good example to that end.
Azerbaijan launched Baku process in 2008 as a
platform for a dialogue between cultures and
civilizations. Since 2011, Azerbaijan hosts Baku
International Humanitarian Forum, bringing together
representatives of political scientific and cultural
circles of various countries to discuss a wide range of
global issues in the interest of all humanity and seek
joint solutions.
Since 2000 Azerbaijan has been an active
member of the EXPO movement. Our pavilions
received awards in the last three exhibitions in Milan
in 2015 with more than 3 million visits, in Antalya in
2016 and in Astana in 2017. World Expos are a
showcase for diversity, based on equality and respect
for all cultures. They bring the entire international
community together in a unique space for global
discussion and cooperation. On 18 May 2017 we
submitted Baku’s candidacy to host World Expo 2025.
We believe that Azerbaijan is one of the best places
to host this universal platform. Our theme for EXPO
2025 - ‘Developing human capital, building a better
future’ addresses the great challenge of our time the
impact of technology and increasing connectivity on
humankind. The capital of Azerbaijan Baku
successfully hosted global forums, the Eurovision
Song Contest, the first European Games, the 4th
Games of Islamic Solidarity, the World Chess
Olympiad and others. Holding of EXPO 2025 in Baku
will play an exceptional role in building of commercial,
political and cultural bridge between East and
West, North and South.
I congratulate all Azerbaijanis around the world
with this very important milestone in the development
of independent Azerbaijan.
ment which ranks on par with most Eastern European
countries. It has a high rate of economic development
and literacy, as well as a low rate of
unemployment.
Today, Azerbaijan can be seen as a major driving
force of the whole region“, says Ambassador Israfilov.
”Our country not only is a strong bridge between
the West and the East, but also from North to
South.“ One of the key goals of modern Azerbaijan
has been to manage its potentially high dependence
on the oil- and gas sector which still accounts, according
to economists, for at least 50 percent of its GDP,
– estimated to be around 4,100 US dollars nominal
per person in 2018. Therefore, already back in 1999,
Azerbaijan has established the so called ”State Oil
Fund of Azerbaijan“, or SOFAZ, that has until now
accumulated funds of some 45 billion US dollar, dedicated
for investments into the diversification of the
country's economy.
Focus in recent years has been put on the development
of agriculture, logistics and transport, environmental
technologies as well as information- and
communications technologies. Plus, not to forget
heavy investments into national tourism (to get a
Top: Khinalug, a high mountain
town at an elevation of 2.350 m
above the sea level, with the
picturesque mountain road.
Below: Little Venice.
The Formula One 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Opening Ceremony of the
Islamic Games in Baku,
2017.
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