Speech by Ilham Aliyev at ceremony to launch drinking water supply in Khizi city and Altiaghaj settlement

 It is a very significant day in Khizi District today. We are marking the supply of drinking water to the city of Khizi. I heartily congratulate you on this remarkable occasion. At the same time, the water problem in Altyagaj settlement has also been resolved. These are wonderful projects. They show once again that our social policy is yielding excellent results. Social steps will continue to be taken in the future too.

The drinking water problem in the city of Khizi was always of concern to the local people. This issue has now been resolved. By completing the drinking water project in Khizi, we have practically resolved the problem of drinking water in all the cities of the northern zone. Earlier, we marked the completion of drinking water projects in Gusar, Guba, Shabran and Siyazan, and today we are in Khachmaz. In other words, the problems of our northern cities associated with drinking water have now been resolved. I would like to congratulate you on this wonderful event again.

In general, I want to note that all social projects are being successfully implemented in our country. There are no delays in any social project. Even in the difficult years of crisis for us, social projects, including those in Khizi, were carried out on a full scale. During my previous visit, we opened the central district hospital, a beautiful modern building. About 10 schools have been built in the district. Other projects related to infrastructure are being implemented. The level of gas supply exceeds 90 per cent. It is possible to say that all the settlements are now provided with gas. I am confident that the level of gas supply in Khizi will reach 100 per cent in the coming period. There are no problems with electricity either. On the contrary, from now on, Khizi District will be contributing a lot of electricity to our common energy system. The Yashmin wind power station is already in operation. It is possible to it driving along the road. Rural roads are being built. We will celebrate the opening of one of them today. I am told that 50 per cent of rural roads have been reconstructed or overhauled.

In a word, the socioeconomic development of Khizi District is well under way. I do hope that agriculture will develop at a rapid pace in the coming years. As a result of the construction of the Takhtakorpu reservoir and the reconstruction of the Samur-Absheron irrigation system, 30,000 hectares of land will be provided with water in the region as a whole. Of these, 12,000 hectares fall to Khizi District - 9,000 hectares of newly irrigated land and 3,000 hectares of lands that have been irrigated before but not at the sufficient level. According to the latest data, 3,000 of these 9,000 hectares of newly irrigated land are already provided with irrigation water. Of course, we expect agriculture in Khizi District to develop at a rapid pace. On the way here, I saw modern irrigation systems under construction. Lands are irrigated by the pivot method. Thus, the yields will increase and new jobs will be created as a result of inclusion of new lands in the circulation. Therefore, the further development of Khizi District looks very positive and reassuring to me. All necessary measures have been taken to develop the district. Roads, electricity, gas lines, drinking water today, a hospital. As you know, a mass medical examination campaign has been under way in our country for several years now. More than 5 million people undergo checkups at the expense of the state every year. This can be done in such great hospitals.

The overall socioeconomic development of our country is very positive. The indicators of the first three months of the year are very reassuring. The results of four months will also be available in a few days. I am sure that we will not only maintain but also increase the dynamics. All the tasks facing the country are being successfully implemented. As for the solution of social issues, many social projects have been implemented to date. The implementation of these projects will be continued. At the same time, it is necessary to create full transparency in the entire social sphere. This is the requirement of the new time. I had set this task before and insist on maximum transparency in the social sphere today. I am sure that it will be provided. Social justice must be firmly established.

The Azerbaijani state rests on a solid foundation. We are developing our economy on the principles of a market economy. At the same time, we are paying great attention to the social agenda. Our country successfully develops thanks to that. As a result, there are stability and calm in the country. The unity between the people and the government is strengthening day by day. Azerbaijan has become a model country on a global scale in terms of development, stability and unity between the people and the government.

Watching the developments unfolding in the world, in the region and in our neighborhood today, we can see yet again that violations in the social sphere, the lack of attention to it and situations in which negative phenomena acquire large proportions lead to major difficulties, problems, and clashes. Our policy has always been unequivocal: a strong state, a strong economy and social welfare. The unity of these principles has made Azerbaijan one of the selected group of countries of the world. As a result, we are developing successfully. Today, public and political processes in Azerbaijan are proceeding in a positive direction, economic development is fully ensured, numerous social projects are being implemented. The task is very simple. We set it several years ago: there should not be a single problem that would bother people. The construction of schools, hospitals and social facilities, the improving well-being of our people and projects related to infrastructure. Special attention is paid to these issues everywhere, in every district and village. The results achieved and the excellent indicators of this year give us full grounds to say that we will follow this right path. The issues that have not yet been resolved will be resolved in the near future. I heartily congratulate you on this wonderful event again.