Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the opening of the Central Hospital in Gusar District

I am very pleased to come to Gusar again. We are meeting on a wonderful occasion to mark the opening of the Gusar District Hospital. This is a remarkable event.

I am sure that this hospital will be at the disposal of the people of Gusar. This was a much anticipated event. We laid the foundation of this hospital together and then the construction began. The hospital is very large. It is the biggest hospital of the northern zone. It has the most advanced equipment and excellent facilities, all the departments are available. After reviewing the hospital, we saw again that it meets the standards of any developed country, perhaps it is even superior to them. The wards, emergency rooms, the surgery block, the department of pediatrics, the maternity unit. It is also very important – our children must be born and raised in good health.

The opening of the hospital is a great event indeed. I do hope that the medical services to be provided here will also be good. They must comply with the available conditions. The modern equipment installed here will certainly guard public health. But to operate this equipment, doctors have to receive training. Appropriate instructions have been given in this regard. People should be provided with excellent services here.

In general, public health issues in the northern part of the country are being successfully resolved, medical centers were built in all surrounding districts in previous years. A medical and diagnostic center was built in Guba. The State Oil Company built a hospital in Siyazan in 2004. Then we celebrated the opening of hospitals in Khachmaz, Shabran and, finally, in Gusar. Thus, key health issues in the northern part of Azerbaijan are being resolved. In general, we are and will be opening new hospitals and diagnostic centers in every region of the country. We must strive to ensure that each district, each district center has a medical center meeting modern standards by the end of next year.

Naturally, this process has become widespread in the city of Baku. Modern hospitals have been built in Baku in recent years. The launch of these hospitals will turn Baku into a regional center also in terms of the healthcare sector.

The hospital construction was carried out by the State Oil Company. The State Oil Company is the biggest company in Azerbaijan and in the region, it has great functions and goals. The main branch of our economy is the oil and gas sector.

Along with this, the State Oil Company is implementing numerous social programs. I had issued the order that the country’s biggest company should achieve the greatest success in the social sphere too. I am very pleased that the State Oil Company has already built more than 10 medical and diagnostic centers.

In general, the State Oil Company is actively involved in the development of Gusar, establishes new parks and museums. I think the people of Gusar should be pleased with this social function.

Specific programs on the development of Gusar are implemented. I have repeatedly visited Gusar and am very pleased that both social and infrastructure projects are carried out here. Some time ago, we built the Shahdag power plant, which is highly important for the development of the district. The station supplies electricity to the entire north of Azerbaijan. The development of the district would be impossible without the construction of roads. With this aim we are building the Baku-Guba-Gusar highway, the Guba-Gusar section of which is now under construction. Also, considering the request of district authorities, we have allocated funds for the construction of rural roads. When I was here last time, we celebrated the opening of the Samur-Hazra rural road. But those of you living beyond Hazra requested that their roads be landscaped too, and the decision was made. A new road is now laid to the Zukhul village. Upon completion of this project residents of 30 villages will use this excellent road.

In previous years we opened a wonderful Olympic Sports Complex in Gusar. Twenty schools have been built and repaired. A beautiful hospital is opening now. Financial support needed for the development of the district is also provided. Loans to business people are allocated through the National Fund on the Support for Entrepreneurship. The country’s biggest non-oil investment project is under way in Gusar District. The construction of the Shahdag winter and summer ski center is progressing rapidly. I do hope that by the end of this year this majestic center will open its doors to the people.

Let me repeat that Azerbaijan’s biggest non-oil investment project, namely in the tourism sector, is implemented in Gusar District. The bulk of this investment is financed by the state. Currently, three hotels, recreation areas, roads and all communications, including electricity, gas, water and sewage, are built here at the expense of the state. I am very pleased that our initiatives are joined by the private sector. The private sector is also building hotels.

Thus, the Shahdag ski center will be one of the most beautiful centers in the world. I think there will be thousands of tourists coming here.

Of course, this will give a huge impetus to the development of the district, hundreds, perhaps thousands of new jobs will be created and Gusar District will become Azerbaijan’s tourist center. We started this project several years ago. I want to say as well that the project was launched on my initiative. I regularly enquire about progress of the construction. I want to reiterate that construction is carried out by the world’s leading construction and design companies. It will be the most beautiful ski resort.

Along with this, specific measures are taken to improve the social infrastructure of the district.

The State Oil Company is implementing major gasification projects here. The district center has been gasified. At present, gasification is ongoing in neighboring villages. So far, gasification is not at a desired level, but the goal has been set to gasify the maximum number of villages by the end of next year. Also, a project to upgrade water and sewer lines is about to start. This project is also very important. Drinking water, sewage, electricity and gas must and will be available everywhere.

In short, using the example of Gusar we can see the overall dynamics of our country. Economic development, the implementation of infrastructure projects, the creation of a social infrastructure, the Olympic center, a hospital, schools, roads, gas and water supply projects – i.e. the improvement ongoing in the country is clearly seen in this district, which makes me happy.

In general, our country is steadily growing. All our economic indicators are at a high level. While the world is dominated by a financial and economic crisis, international financial institutions are raising Azerbaijan’s economic rating. At a time when the ratings of developed countries of Europe are falling, Azerbaijan's rating is climbing. This is the result of the work ongoing in our country. Where there is work, there is a result. We work and work well.

Last year’s indicators were also very reassuring. Last year our non-oil economy grew by over 10 per cent. The results of the first month of this year are as positive. Our non-oil industry has grown by more than 10 per cent. New industrial enterprises, buildings, factories, tourist centers are emerging everywhere. But, of course, every district is special and we are implementing our general development plan in accordance with that.

The development of Gusar District will be largely associated with tourism and agriculture. We must preserve this beautiful nature. This is a great asset and wealth. The clean air, the excellent facilities, the beautiful mountains. We need to make this place even nicer by working hard and implementing specific projects. The town of Gusar is also improving.

Beautiful parks and roads are built and the infrastructure upgraded, and this process will go even faster in the future.

The opening of this beautiful hospital today is very important and valuable for the people of Gusar and all Azerbaijanis. All conditions are available here for the people of Gusar to restore their health. My only request is that you should come here for checkups at least once a year.

Our country is developing in the right direction, the road ahead is clear and our intentions are pure. We will strengthen our country.

Azerbaijan is an island of stability, security and development in the region. All people live like one family in Azerbaijan.

This is also our great advantage, a great asset. We must appreciate this and further strengthen the brotherhood and friendship among all the peoples living in our country. This may be our biggest asset. All the people living in Azerbaijan have enjoyed equal rights for centuries. I am glad that these wonderful traditions live on in the years of independence, except for the first two years. In the first years of independence, the government made serious mistakes, actually committed crimes in all the areas, including the sphere of ethnic relations. After great leader Heydar Aliyev returned to power in Azerbaijan, all the issues were resolved and the tendencies of friendship, solidarity and mutual support inherent in Azerbaijan were invigorated.

Every citizen, regardless of language, religion or nationality, is a valuable and dear citizen of Azerbaijan. This is what distinguishes us from certain countries. Discrimination will never be tolerated here. I am the guarantor of this – the President of Azerbaijan! Azerbaijan has never had and will never have stand-offs on ethnic grounds. On the contrary, our experience is studied by the world. How is it that representatives of different religions speaking different languages can live together like one family, without a problem?! By our lives and policies we are proving that this is possible. It is sometimes argued in European countries that multiculturalism has failed. That is, representatives of different nationalities cannot live together. Let them come and see: in Azerbaijan it is possible! Moreover, it is possible to live well. This is why Azerbaijan hosts various international events to strengthen interfaith, intercultural and interethnic dialogue. We want the world community to know about our experience and apply it where necessary. Azerbaijan is a country that stands out in the world from this point of view.

Our international standing is as strong. Azerbaijan is a member of the most authoritative global entity – the UN Security Council. This is a great responsibility, great confidence, a great result of our work.

Year 2012 will also be successful for Azerbaijan. I have no doubt about that. Every citizen must contribute to the development of our country, our native Azerbaijan.

My congratulations on this wonderful occasion again! I wish the people of Gusar good health and continued success.