2 December 2008
AZERTAC state news agency

Dear Mr. Secretary General!

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

Dear guests!

First of all, I warmly welcome all of you in Azerbaijan. Today in the capital of Azerbaijan, in the city of Baku, very important action is carried out. I am convinced that this conference will play great and positive role in strengthening of intercultural dialogue.

Conducting today the conference of the ministers of culture of the various countries, we once again show that last years Azerbaijan has achieved tremendous successes in questions of religious, national and ethnic tolerance. Actually, in our country, at all times, irrespective of political system, the people lived as one family.

Representatives of all religions always lived here in friendship and brotherhood. I wish to underline once again that it is the major factor inherent to our country.

After regaining state independence by Azerbaijan, we have paid huge attention to international relations, strengthening of national and religious tolerance. Today, Azerbaijan is truly a country of friendship and brotherhood. Representatives of all people, religions live here as one family. I am convinced that the experience saved up by Azerbaijan in this direction, is very important. No doubt that at conference detailed conversation will take place on this.

I am very pleased that representatives of various countries of the world take part in this Conference. As you know, the Conference is organized by the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan. I wish to notice also that Azerbaijan is the member of the Council of Europe for already eight years. As a result of carried out in this period political and economic reforms, fulfillment of the obligations accepted before the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan has rapidly promoted from the point of view of democratic development. The conducted political and economic reforms, and establishment of rule of the law, application in Azerbaijan of progressive experience – all is the important events which have occurred lately. We are very happy with cooperation between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan. Sure, this cooperation will be successfully continued further and will create for us additional possibilities.

Among our guests also there are members of the Organization Islamic Conference. We are very glad to this, and are glad that today in Baku, on the junction of East and West there are representatives of various religions from the various countries. We attach this huge significance. It is very important, as now they often speak about dialogue between civilizations and cultures, however, sometimes the processes occurring in the world, unfortunately, lead to intensification of tension. I would like, that the Baku process which has begun today in Azerbaijan has brought a valuable contribution to strengthening of dialogue, friendship and mutual understanding between cultures. In a word, the history and geographical position of Azerbaijan, its participation in the various international organizations, of course, expand our possibilities even more. I am convinced that successful development of our country will be continued in the years ahead, and stipulating this development is not only political or economic reforms, but also as I have already noted, fine political atmosphere dominating in Azerbaijan, protection of the rights of all nationalities living here and a peaceful life in Azerbaijan for each person and representative of any nation.

Our country has rich and great history. The people lived and created in this land for thousands years. The historical monuments reflecting it are properly protected by the Azerbaijani state. We are much adhered to our cultural and historical heritage. We do much for preservation of our cultural heritage. For centuries the Azerbaijani people have been deprived independence. We only during a short period have become owners of our destiny. But, despite it, our history, culture, the literature and native language – these factors have protected Azerbaijanis as a nation, from assimilation, and today in our independent country the Azerbaijani people are the owner of his destiny. In 1991, when Azerbaijan has restored its state independence, the situation in the country was extremely heavy. Political, economic crisis, and also aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and occupation as a result of it a part of our territories – all this testifies how extremely difficult was the situation in Azerbaijan. But, despite it, with the efforts and will of the Azerbaijani people, we have with honor overcome these difficulties and these ordeals. Today Azerbaijan, possible to tell, has completely gained its independence. Azerbaijan pursues independent policy. We have achieved huge and significant successes both in economy and policy.

The people of Azerbaijan live in peace, in the conditions of peace and safety. In Azerbaijan, it is undertaken important steps directed on formation and strengthening of a civil society. In the society, there are no discords connected with the basic directions of development of the country, on the contrary, our society has united around public ideas – around the philosophy of Azerbaijanism, the present, attachment to the historical roots, traditions. At the same time, Azerbaijan is a secular state. Representatives of all religions in Azerbaijan enjoy huge respect. These are the factors characterizing today our country from the political point of view.

After regaining independence and integration of our country into the world community, in Azerbaijan the modern political system was established. But this system should be still advanced. Economic reforms conducted in the country substantially have increased our economic power. Last four years Azerbaijan is the first country on a global scale from the point of view of economic growth. For last five years, our economy has increased almost three times. Budget expenses have increased in 12 times, industrial production has considerably grown. Our possibilities have extended. We have reached big success struggle against poverty. For four years, poverty level was reduced from 49 to 16 percent, and I am convinced that it will be even lower in current year.

In Azerbaijan, we successfully combat against unemployment which was the largest and a problem over long years. For last five years, we have opened more than 740 thousand new workplaces. All our regions are developing. In a word, Azerbaijan completely provides itself economically. At the same time, our successes in power sphere are great value not only for the country, but also for entire region. Today, energy carriers of Azerbaijan are delivered on the European and world markets and play a positive role in world power safety. In this area, the European Union and Azerbaijan have signed corresponding documents. We actively participate in other international organizations. In Azerbaijan, the international forums connected with maintenance of power safety are periodically held. Results of these forums represent huge value not only for region, but also for the world.

In a word, we with great optimism look ahead. Azerbaijan is very stable country from the point of view of socio-political situation, which is reflected in the direct foreign investments put in Azerbaijan. The country`s successes in strengthening of economic potential are available. At the same time, despite all these successes, reforms in Azerbaijan proceed and should proceed. And both in political and economic sphere. It is pleasant that the World Bank, the largest financial structure, recognized this year Azerbaijan as the first country-reformer all over the world. It is evidence to the fact that reforms carried out by us really are very courageous, successful and important. Along with this, considerable steps are undertaken in the field of full maintenance of transparency in financial sector. Last year the United Nations has awarded the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan with the award for transparency, the successes reached in the field of transparency. All these are very serious events. It is an estimation given by the largest international organizations of the world to Azerbaijan, the processes occurring in Azerbaijan.

At the same time, high level of religious and national tolerance in Azerbaijan and residing of all people at peace and friendship, certainly, do us more strongly. These factors are very important for development of any country. I would like that the successes reached in our country till today, have been continued further. For this purpose, of course, it is necessary to confirm completely the peace in region.

We very much want, that all conflicts in the Caucasian region, at last, have been settled, that the peace was established and thus, possibilities for cooperation in region opened. It is very important for any country. In particular, events occurring on Southern Caucasus once again testify to completely provide principles of international law. With infringement of the norms of international law, unfortunately, there are extremely serious and dangerous processes.

The biggest threat in our region remains to be unsettlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It has been for long years since our lands are under occupation. As a result of the ethnic cleansing policy pursued by Armenia against Azerbaijan, as a result of aggressive separatism, 20 percent of our territories have appeared under occupation. Suffered from this occupation 1 million Azerbaijanis were ousted from their homelands. Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was violated. Nagorno Karabakh, primordially Azerbaijani land, and 7 provinces adjoining to it completely have been occupied, and our compatriots deported from there. It is the big injustice.

The United Nations decisions, 4 resolutions of Security Council demand unconditional withdrawal of the armed forces of Armenia from our lands. Armenia ignores it. In the resolution accepted in General Assembly of the United Nations in March current year, it is noticed that the Azerbaijani lands are under occupation and that it is necessary to put an end to this occupation. It was not implemented either. Several years ago, the Council of Europe has accepted the resolution connected with the conflict, the occupational policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan. This was not implemented, too. The Organization of the Islamic Conference also has made similar decision. That is, we are witnesses of full infringement of norms of international law in region, decisions of the international organizations, in particular, very influential organizations, unfortunately, are not implemented. It poses the greatest threat to processes occurring in region.

We do not doubt that the principles of international law should be completely established, territorial integrity of Azerbaijan restored, the occupied lands as soon as possible released from occupational forces.

Occupation and military aggression, simultaneously, have caused huge damage to our cultural heritage. On the occupied lands all were destroyed. We speak about it, and about it speaks the international organizations. In 2005, OSCE fact-finding mission carried out monitoring in the regions of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia. On the basis of the given monitoring, a special report has been prepared and presented. In the said Report, it is underlined that all there was destroyed. All buildings, all historical monuments were destroyed by Armenia. The culture centers were destroyed, all exhibits of our museums were stolen, and museums plundered. Graves of our ancestors, our mosques were destroyed. All this has been done by Armenia. The OSCE fact-finding mission has specified all it in the Report.

We have great respect for cultural, historical heritage of all people living in Azerbaijan. Evidence to that are the temples, monuments of all religions protected in Baku, and their restoration.

Dear friends!

I wish to congratulate warmly once again you on the occasion of conducting the present conference. I reiterate that we attach huge significance to conducting of this conference in Azerbaijan. Sure, it will have fine results influencing on the process of strengthening of intercultural dialogue even more.

I would like that the “Baku process” was long-term. I very much want, that after carrying out of the present conference we could develop concrete mechanisms, and prepare concrete plan of activity. And that carrying out of such actions became tradition, both in Baku, and in other cities. I hope that your discussions will be rather successful, and we will reach our goal.

Once again I warmly welcome you, and wish success your conference!