Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the ceremony to start natural gas supply to Lahij settlement

Greetings! I am very glad to be visiting Lahij settlement. I wanted to come for many years, but this is my first visit as President. I was here many times before that and you know that perfectly well. I didn’t wanted to come empty-handed. So it took a little time. On the eve of this visit, very important events occurred in Lahij settlement. First, we celebrated the opening of the Damirci-Lahij highway today. This, I think, is a historic project. The road connects Lahij with Shamakhi District. The previous road was impassable. It was impossible even for trucks to drive on it. And now I have driven along this road myself. It is a comfortable, beautiful and safe road. It is also comfortable both for tourists coming from Baku to Lahij and for our people. It is both shorter and safer.

When visiting the village of Damirchi last year, I gave instructions related to the development of the village. We celebrated the opening of a history museum there today. The Damirchi village is historically associated with Lahij. So travel in both directions will be very comfortable now.

The focus is also on the issue of education in Lahij settlement. I know that there were proposals to build a new school. The order was issued last year and we opened this school today. It is a beautiful school for 400 pupils. More than 200 pupils go there now but the population will grow in the future and the number of children will increase. We have built a school that will fully meet the needs of Lahij settlement in the future.

Of course, the supply of natural gas to Lahij settlement is also a historic project. You are well aware that building gas lines is a very difficult issue from a financial and technical points of view. But considering the special place of Lahij settlement in Azerbaijan, we have implemented this large-scale project. We will now celebrate the supply of natural gas together.

So I want to say again that I have come here to take part in these events and meet with you. I am glad that the requests of the people of Lahij are fulfilled. If there are additional requests, do let me know and we will fulfill them, so that this historical and ancient settlement continues to develop.

Lahij is a historical place, an ancient settlement. The people living here are very talented. Your coppersmith art and activities in other areas show how talented the people of Lahij are. At the same time, many eminent personalities were born in Lahij. There are many scientists, intellectuals and public figures from here today. So Lahij has nurtured very decent people.

I believe that you are in the forefront in issues of education too. I am now told that pupils finishing secondary school in Lahij are being admitted to higher educational institutions of Azerbaijan with high scores. This suggests that the settlement has very deep roots and culture. This culture shows itself because Lahij is a unique settlement not only in Azerbaijan but also in our region. It is no coincidence that thousands and even tens of thousands of tourists come to Lahij. Even more people will now travel along the Shamakhi-Lahij road. I am sure that the flow of tourists will increase. The settlement is quite special due to its rare architectural ensemble.

The architecture, streets and buildings of Lahij now are a national treasure in themselves. The handicrafts of the people living and working here represent this village on a global level, of course. It is no coincidence that the world's leading TV channels broadcast programs about Lahij. Excellent reports are broadcast on Euronews, other leading TV channels and the channels of neighboring countries. This further glorifies Azerbaijan and contributes to an increase in the number of visitors to Lahij.

Tourism is one of the priority development directions in Azerbaijan. According to the information I have, hotels are under construction in Lahij. One hotel is being built in front of the school. I welcome that. Just have a look – the number of tourists increased by 22 per cent in 2016, by 20 per cent in 2017 and by a further 9 per cent in seven months of this year. And this process continues. Every visitor contributes to the development of the service sector. I want people living in every part of our country to live even better, improve their standard of living and live in prosperity. Therefore, we are implementing all the necessary infrastructure projects, including those in Ismayilli District. I attended the opening of several sites in Ismayilli District yesterday. A new livestock complex, an agricultural estate, a substation, roads — all this serves the development of Ismayilli District. The level of gasification in Ismayilli District is at 75 per cent. We have implemented a drinking water project. The problem of drinking water in the city of Ismayilli has been resolved. Many rural roads have been built. The substation we commissioned yesterday supplies electricity not only to Ismayilli district but also to neighboring districts. Now the substation operates at only 40 per cent of capacity. In other words, we have the entire energy infrastructure for the future development of Ismayilli District.

Yesterday I also took part in the opening of a carpet factory. A total of 150 women are provided with jobs there. They carry on the art of carpet weaving and get a good salary. So these are the realities of Azerbaijan today. Infrastructure is being created in the most remote places, educational institutions are being built, roads and gas lines are being extended so that people can live comfortably. I am sure that after the construction of the road and the supply of gas, the number of visitors to Lahij – both Azerbaijani and foreign citizens – will significantly increase.

I am glad to be with you today. I have repeatedly met with the people of Lahij at various exhibitions – in Baku, at events organized by Mehriban Aliyeva through the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The people of Lahij demonstrate their art in foreign countries. They always invited me to come here and every time I said that I would. But, let me say again – I didn’t want to come empty-handed. Congratulations again!