NEW AZERBAIJAN PARTY

Q: We are about to celebrate the National Salvation Day. First of all we would like you to provide an insight into the history of the New Azerbaijan Party, which has played a crucial role in the country`s socio-political life.

A: The New Azerbaijan Party is the largest political party in Azerbaijan, which enjoys people`s support and confidence. The party achieved this thanks to its policy, which has always been based on national interests.

We all remember the first few months and years of our independence. Those were very difficult, tragic years. The government of the time did not have the strength to preserve the independence. At the same time, we lived in a time of war and military setbacks at the frontline certainly undermined our society a lot. But the new government which came to power in mid-1992 put our country in an even more deplorable situation. Due to its incompetence, lack of professionalism and treachery we were about to lose our independence.

The negative processes taking place in the country, crisis, economic recession and political instability dealt a major blow to our independence. Under such circumstances, the bright people of our society, intellectuals, people enjoying great respect rallied around great leader Heydar Aliyev and decided to establish the New Azerbaijan Party.

Deep political, economic and social crisis in the country aroused the concerns of the intellectuals and renowned persons - the leading groups of the nation. At that moment, the persons thinking of the country's destiny came forward with an initiative to set up a new party able to get the country out of the crisis and united around the nation's wise son Heydar Aliyev to the effect. At that time, an appeal signed by 91 Azerbaijani intellectuals was sent to Nakhchivan, to Heydar Aliyev. The document get into the modern history of Azerbaijan as the "appeal of 91 intellectuals", and in reality, it was the expression of people's wishes and will. This appeal signed by the well-known intellectuals and famous figures and personalities of Azerbaijan urged Heydar Aliyev to be the head of the new political party. The conference, which gathered the representatives of all the regions of Azerbaijan, was held November 21, 1992 with national leader Heydar Aliyev presiding at the event. The Constituent Assembly approved the decision on the establishment of the Party, the Party's Program and its Statute. National leader Heydar Aliyev was unanimously elected as a chairman of the party. It elected the Political Council, the Board and deputies chairman. The New Azerbaijan Party assumed a great historic mission in the history of independent Azerbaijan, and its establishment became a remarkable event in the life of our people.

Q: What novelties did the New Azerbaijan Party bring into Azerbaijan`s political life?

A: In the 1990s, the fundamental economic and political reforms were necessary. But in those days there were different views on where the reforms will take us. There were different views on foreign policy and its directions. The wisdom of the great leader played an important role in the formation of very specific and targeted programs for all areas. Today we are going this way. The policy of Heydar Aliyev continues and, of course, is enriched today. The foundation of Azerbaijan’s successful development was laid in those years.

By realizing major infrastructure projects in Azerbaijan, improving the business environment and inviting foreign investors to our country, we made great strides in the economic sphere. It is no coincidence that Azerbaijan is known worldwide as the fastest growing economy now. In terms of political stability, Azerbaijan is an example, a model for many countries.

he great leader owns historic merits in resolving humanitarian issues and promoting the Azerbaijani language. It was on his initiative that the issues relating to the establishment of the Azerbaijani language as the state language were addressed. The philosophy of Azerbaijanism was, first and foremost, initiated by Heydar Aliyev and this ideology unites our entire society. This ideology is based on both history and the present day. It encompasses our past and, at the same time, our current policy in this area. The steps taken in this direction have already received acclaim in the world. So a strong foundation was laid for each direction and we are now developing on this foundation.

Q:What can you say of the role of the National Salvation Day in the country`s life?

A: We have recently marked the Republic Day. I would like to quote the words of President Ilham Aliyev, which he said at an official reception.

“The greatest happiness of the Azerbaijani people was in the fact that at the crucial moment our people made ​​the right choice, showed wisdom, turned to the great leader and urged him to take power. If Heydar Aliyev had not returned to the government of Azerbaijan in those years, the country could have fallen apart completely. Therefore, 1993 was actually the first year of our real independence. It is thanks to the determination, courage, experience, outlook and thought-out policies of Heydar Aliyev that Azerbaijan managed to get out of that difficult situation and embark on a path of sustainable development. The illegal armed formations were disarmed, a major blow was dealt to separatist forces and Azerbaijan embarked on a path of development. It was on the initiative of Heydar Aliyev that democratic institutions were established and strengthened in Azerbaijan. The Constitution of the independent Azerbaijan is also a creation of Heydar Aliyev. The Constitution was adopted in 1995. A political system was put in place. The contribution of the great leader to the formation of the political system is undeniable. It was the “New Azerbaijan Party”, established as an opposition party in 1992, that played a crucial role in the creation of a modern political system. Political reforms were launched in Azerbaijan. A period of integration into the world community began. Azerbaijan began to be recognized in the world. The war waged against us was not limited only to the Armenian aggression. Azerbaijan was also subjected to information warfare. We lived in an information blockade, and the great leader made ​​great efforts to break this blockade, introduce Azerbaijan to the world and demonstrate the potential of Azerbaijan, and these efforts produced excellent results.”

The national leader returned to Baku in 1993 when the country faced a threat of civil war. On June 9 Heydar Aliyev came to Baku. On June 15 he was unanimously elected chairman of the Parliament of Azerbaijan. On June 15 he was elected the chairman of the Azerbaijan Supreme Council, and on July 24 in accordance with the decision of the Milli Majlis the national leader became acting President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This marked a turning point in the history of Azerbaijan`s statehood.

National leader Heydar Aliyev`s returning to power marked a turning point in the country`s political and economic life. Azerbaijan`s natural resources started to be used for the benefit of the country`s people. In 1994 Azerbaijan signed a ceasefire agreement with Armenia.

The national leader laid the foundations of Azerbaijan`s oil strategy. The country signed the Contract of the Century to attract foreign investments. The contract signed in Gulistan Palace, Baku on September 20, 1994 later became famous as the "Contract of the Century" due to its tremendous importance.

The signing of the Contract of the Century played a tremendous and invaluable role in Azerbaijan`s development. The Contract ensured rapid development for Azerbaijan, which is today the leader in the South Caucasus region.

The country launched the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines, which are part of the national leader`s oil strategy. Azerbaijan is today one of the main contributors to ensuring Europe`s energy security.

Azerbaijan is confidently moving forward towards the path of development. The future will see Azerbaijan achieve more success.

Q: The post-2003 period is considered a continuation of the Great Path. How do you think what factors do condition this?

A: I would like to quote President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who said at his inauguration ceremony back in 2003: “On October 15 the Azerbaijani people voted for Heydar Aliyev`s policy, peace, progress, development, stability. This policy has no alternative in Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev`s policy has brought great successes to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is developing and achieving successes in all the spheres. Azerbaijan has gained a worthy position in the international arena. Azerbaijan has a good reputation worldwide now. All the large-scale projects in the region are being implemented with the participation of Azerbaijan, taking the interests of Azerbaijan into consideration.”

President Ilham Aliyev`s election as chairman of YAP and the Head of State meant the continuation of the national leader-initiated political course. There has not been any alternative to national leader Heydar Aliyev`s policy, and the last 10 years proved that Mr. Ilham Aliyev`s becoming the President marked a new page in the country`s development.

The President has remained committed to the national leader`s ideas to strengthen the state independence, preserve national traditions and moral and cultural values, and build civil society in the country.
The national leader`s ideas are continued by our President Ilham Aliyev. As a result of the Head of State`s tireless work Azerbaijan became one of the most rapidly developing countries in the world. Time shows that there is no alternative to Heydar Aliyev policy, and that the people of Azerbaijan were right to support Ilham Aliyev. All international organizations openly admit that President Ilham Aliyev`s coming to power in Azerbaijan boosted the country`s development, and Azerbaijan became one of the leaders on a global scale in terms of growth rate of Gross Domestic Product.

Q: Mr. Farzaliyev, please tell us about the development of Narimanov district.

A: On the first days of his presidency Mr. Ilham Aliyev approved state programs for the development of Baku and its suburbs as well as the country`s districts. At the conference dedicated to the results of the implementation of the State Programme on the socioeconomic development of the city of Baku and its suburbs, President Ilham Aliyev said the programme had become a very big step for the improvement of our city.

Newly-built facilities have considerably improved the look of Narimanov district. The past ten years saw the emergence of a large number of healthcare and educational facilities, bridges, pedestrian passages, parks, infrastructure facilities, production enterprises, administrative buildings.

I would also like to emphasize the work of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, deputy chairwoman of the New Azerbaijan Party Mehriban Aliyeva is providing great support and help to residents of Narimanov district.

I would like to conclude by quoting President Ilham Aliyev, who said at the official reception on the occasion of the national holiday of Azerbaijan – the Republic Day: “Azerbaijan should and will go down this path. Our path is the path of freedom, development and independence. In the years of independence, we have proven that we can live as an independent country, we can live well and we can develop. We must and we will continue to protect our greatest asset – our independence.”