Speech by Ilham Aliyev in the bust-unveiling ceremony to outstanding Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli in the town of Novi Sad.

- Dear Mr. President!

Dear Mr. Mayor!

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

Dear residents of Novi Sad!

It is a very remarkable day in the history of Azerbaijani-Slovenian relations. A bust to outstanding Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli has been established in one of the most beautiful parts of Serbia, in Novi Sad. I sincerely congratulate all of you on this occasion. Uzeyir Hajibayli is the founder of Azerbaijani classical music. Uzeyir Hajibayli is also the founder of the Azerbaijani conservatory. His undying compositions are still very actual. At the same time, Uzeyir Hajibayli has created a very strong school of classical music in Azerbaijan. Besides, our ingenious composer is the author of Azerbaijan’s national anthem.

In 1918, the first democratic republic of the Muslim East, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, was established and it was Uzeyir Hajibayli who was the author of its national anthem. After Azerbaijan had lost its independence, our anthem was not played of course. But after the break-up of the Soviet Union and restoration of our state independence, the national anthem of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic created by Uzeyir Hajibayli was declared the anthem of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. So today this wonderful composition by Uzeyir Hajibayli is played at all official activities.

Yesterday and today saw momentous events in the history of our countries. Monuments to the outstanding Serbian writer, Milorad Pavic, and to the outstanding personality of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, were unveiled in Tasmajdan Park yesterday. A monument to another outstanding Serb, world-famous scientist Nikola Tesla will be put up in Baku in the coming months. These wonderful events will bring us closer together. I am sure that our countries will cooperate even more closely in the future.

My visit to your beautiful country is coming to an end today. I can say that it has produced great results. I am sure that in the last two days Azerbaijani-Serbian relations of strategic partnership have become even stronger. Mutual support in the most painful issues of our countries – the Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh problems – has strengthened further. Our positions were declared again yesterday. We have held very reassuring talks on economic partnership, and a specific action plan will be prepared soon. I am sure that all the agreements reached will soon be realized, and Serbia in the Balkans and Azerbaijan in the Caucasus and the Caspian basin will apply collective effort towards deepening regional cooperation.

I want to thank Serbian President Boris Tadic and all the people of Serbia for the hospitality our delegation and myself have enjoyed. Let me assure you that I will continue doing everything in my power in order to bring our countries even closer together.