Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the Iftar ceremony on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan

Your Holiness Sheikh!

Dear religious figures!

Dear friends!

Our meetings in the holy month of Ramadan have already become a wonderful tradition. This tradition has a great history. The foundation of this tradition was laid by great leader Heydar Aliyev and His Holiness Sheikh. Heydar Aliyev's policy is still living and successfully continuing in Azerbaijan in all areas today. In essence, as is the case in all other areas, the foundation of relations between religion and the state was laid in the years of our independence.

Today, relations between religion and the state in Azerbaijan are at a very high level, and I believe that they can be cited as an example on a global scale. In the same way as all the spheres are developing in Azerbaijan, positive trends are evident in this area too. This further strengthens our country. The strength of a country is determined not only by natural or financial resources. The strength of each country is in comprehensive development. The strength of Azerbaijan lies in the fact that representatives of all nations and religions live in peace here. They live in the atmosphere of friendship and brotherhood. This is our strength. Therefore, a long-term, successful and sustainable development of our country is beyond doubt. We will only move forward successfully, solve the problems facing the country and achieve comprehensive development of Azerbaijan.

Ramadan is a holy month. The people of Azerbaijan have cherished these sacred feelings in their hearts for centuries. But our independence is still very young. This year we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of it and, as an independent state and a free nation, we are extensively celebrating this dear religious holiday.

Representatives of all faiths feel comfortable in Azerbaijan. Respect for the Islamic culture and Islamic religion goes hand in hand with respect for all other religions in Azerbaijan. Someone respecting his religion should also respect others. This is already an established approach in Azerbaijan. Religious leaders have talked about tolerance in Azerbaijan. This is already a reality, and in some cases our experience is studied worldwide. I am very pleased that tolerance, religious tolerance are already well-established concepts in Azerbaijan. This is not just a slogan, but a way of life.

The relationship between religion and the state in Azerbaijan is well manifested through the attitude towards religious monuments. The Azerbaijani state is building and restoring not only the mosques and other Islamic sites. We are also renovating and building temples belonging to other religions. This has been mentioned here, and I am very glad that leaders of various religions have expressed a common opinion. It shows that work in this area in Azerbaijan is at a very high level. Of course, this means that there is a correct state policy, that it has a foundation, but at the same time this is a political and public order of society. This is our way of life. This is our world outlook. This is how we live and, by living so, prove to ourselves, to the region and to the world that multiculturalism does exist. Multiculturalism is a relatively new concept. In essence, it means coexistence of people of different cultures and religions. This concept has existed in Azerbaijan for centuries, it exists and is getting stronger today. The people of Azerbaijan have lived in different socio-political systems at different times. Despite this, these positive trends have always strengthened, and most importantly in the years of independence. These are the factors enhancing our successful development.

At the same time, the contribution of His Holiness Sheikh to elevating the relationship between religion and the state to a high level is enormous. His Holiness Sheikh is a religious leader enjoying great authority both in and outside Azerbaijan. As His Holiness Sheikh has noted, Azerbaijan has already hosted a number of prestigious international events on interreligious and intercultural dialogue. Azerbaijan has become an international venue for interreligious and intercultural dialogue. This is not only due to our geographical position or the fact that representatives of different religions have lived like one family in Azerbaijan for centuries.

The international authority of His Holiness Sheikh is playing a role in this. I have repeatedly exchanged views with my colleagues, heads of state and government on the activities of His Holiness. I am very pleased that our esteemed Sheikh is greatly respected in the world. Very important steps are taken on his initiative to strengthen the interreligious dialogue both on the international arena and in the Caucasus. International events are held, religious leaders from neighboring regions occasionally come to Azerbaijan. I want to recall a visit by the muftis of North Caucasian republics of Russia. It was a very successful visit. This brings us even closer together, and these factors are very important to peace, stability and tolerance in the Caucasus.

The traditional Iftar organized on the initiative of His Holiness Sheikh also has one goal: to further unite us, Azerbaijani society, to ensure that representatives of all ethnicities and faiths living in Azerbaijan could hear the right words from both the political and religious leaders. These words, I repeat, are not just an expression of an intent. These words are based on concrete actions, on great work. The successes Azerbaijan has made in 20 years, in the years of independence, have been possible also thanks to this great atmosphere.

Our country is developing. This is already a reality. Anyone visiting Azerbaijan, Baku and the districts, if he is objective and unbiased, cannot deny this development. It makes us very happy, inspires us even more and encourages for further steps. We want to make our country even stronger.

Today, our positions in the region are quite strong. Azerbaijan’s influence opportunities are expanding. These opportunities are and will be serving to strengthen cooperation and neighborliness in the region. Our strengthening is positive for the region. Azerbaijan is playing a stabilizing role in the region, and it will gradually increase. We have all the freedoms. We are proud to say that Azerbaijan has all the freedoms, the freedom of religion. The biggest asset is the freedom of religion, conscience, speech, thought, political activity and the press. All these freedoms are available in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani people is a free people. We have gained independence, have been living as an independent country for 20 years. At the same time, the development of democracy in Azerbaijan has also come a long way. There are all the freedoms today, and the people of Azerbaijan are seeing the fruits of that. A liberal economic policy is impossible without political reform. And political reform is impossible without reforms in the religious sphere. So all these directions complement each other and precondition our successful development.

In 20 years Azerbaijan has demonstrated to both its own citizens and the world that we can live as an independent state, a free nation, and a clear demonstration of that is our well-being and economic indicators that have been improving from year to year.

All the problems facing the country are being resolved. As you know, there are specific programs and execution mechanisms in every field. These programs are being implemented, our country is successfully developing. Creative and landscaping work is under way throughout the country. Major infrastructure projects are being implemented. Our districts are experiencing unprecedented revival and development. This is a reality. This has been done by us, all this work has been possible thanks to the work and talent of the Azerbaijani people and stability in the country.

We remember the first years of our independence too well. The situation in Azerbaijan was very difficult at the time. There was an economic, political and military crisis, civil strife, civil war, Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, which resulted in a complete paralysis of the economy. We remember those years. We have managed to overcome that great challenge. Azerbaijan's independence was called into question. After the return of great leader Heydar Aliyev to leadership at the request of the Azerbaijani people, an end was put to all the negative trends, and the country entered a period of development.

Today we see this development. Of course, this is very gratifying. But at the same time, we should not be complacent with our successes. A lot still remains to be done – in the economic, social and all other areas. Of course, the most important problem facing the country is the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Our lands are under occupation. Unfortunately, this injustice has been ongoing for many years in spite of the fact that all norms of international law and the historical truth are on our side. We all know that Nagorno-Karabakh is native Azerbaijani land. Political relations and political weight in the region also confirm Azerbaijan’s superiority. We have economic and military superiority. We are superior to Armenia in all respects. Religious leaders have noted here that our cause is just. We did not seize anyone’s lands, we have no claims on someone else’s lands although the present-day Armenia was established on historically Azerbaijani territories. We want to restore our territorial integrity.

We have a right to that. We are strong enough. We simply want this issue to be resolved without bloodshed, peacefully, in a negotiated manner. But at the same time, we will not step back from our principled position. Our position, I repeat, is based both on historical truth and international law. Nagorno-Karabakh is historical and ancestral Azerbaijani land. This is Azerbaijani land also from a legal standpoint. Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is recognized around the world. Azerbaijanis territorial integrity, including Nagorno-Karabakh, must be restored.

There are autonomies in the world, in Europe and other regions. There is a good experience of autonomies. We have carefully studied this issue and are ready to apply the experience existing in Europe, in leading countries, but within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Azerbaijan's territorial integrity has never been and never will be the subject of negotiations. I have no doubt that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity will be restored.

I want to reiterate that underlying this confidence are many factors. First is international law, second is our political weight, third is economic potential, fourth is our successful future, fifth is demographics. The Armenian leadership should finally understand that there is a demographic factor, and this factor is already showing itself. I am sure that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be resolved. But let them at least think what these demographic trends will lead to in five, 10 and 15 years. Thank God, the population of Azerbaijan is growing. Early last year, a nine millionth citizen of Azerbaijan was born, and our population already exceeds 9,160,000 people. By contrast, Armenian population, economic potential and natural resources are shrinking. This list goes on. Azerbaijan’s superiority in any area is beyond doubt. Under such circumstances it will be impossible to keep this conflict in a “frozen” state. It is encouraging that the statements by the heads of countries dealing with this issue and providing mediation clearly say that the status quo should be changed. The status quo is intolerable and must be changed. Most of all this is in the interests of the Azerbaijani side, because it is our ancestral land that is under occupation. We want the citizens of Azerbaijan to return to these lands soon and Azerbaijan's sovereignty to be restored.

Dear friends! I want to express my satisfaction with the fact that I am next to you in this holy month of Ramadan. I want to say again that these meetings have a great meaning. This tradition will live on. I am confident that the new residency His Holiness Sheikh has shown today will be ready by the next holiday. The current residency is also pleasing to the eye but the building under construction is, of course, even more grand and majestic. But regardless of the place, most important is the sincerity between us, in society, among representatives of all nations living in Azerbaijan and religions. This sincerity is there, and it is up to us to preserve and strengthen this great atmosphere, increase the power of our country and lead it forward. In this holy month let me wish you and all the people of Azerbaijan health and happiness.

Thank you!