2008 successful despite global crunch, Aliyev says
2008 was successful for Azerbaijan, as was 2007,
although it went down in history as a year of worldwide financial
crisis, President Ilham Aliyev has said.
Aliyev told a cabinet meeting on the outcomes of the country`s socio-economic development last year that the year`s progress had been the result of substantial work done to boost Azerbaijan`s development.
The president emphasized that the income of the country`s population increased 36% while the minimum wage and minimum pensions rose by 50% and the poverty rate in the country decreased in 2008.
The average monthly wage in Azerbaijan has reached $335, while the average pension is $120.
As a result of the success of the state program on socio-economic development of the regions, the national economy has been diversified and new infrastructure projects launched, Aliyev said, stressing that a new program for the next five years is being prepared.
766,000 jobs have been created in Azerbaijan during the past five years, including 548,000 permanent positions. In 2008 alone, over 120,000 jobs were created.
The president said it would be unacceptable to link Azerbaijan`s rapid growth with the oil and gas sector alone. He noted that a thought out policy, efforts to protect the country`s national interests and democratic reforms were the foundation for this development.
Aliyev went on to say that despite the financial meltdown that has hit economies worldwide, Azerbaijan`s state budget for 2009 has increased. This year`s state spending amounts to $15.4 billion, while Azerbaijan`s currency reserves exceed $18 billion.
The head of state said the resource-rich South Caucasus republic`s successes in the energy sector have bolstered its positions on the world stage. Azerbaijan has fully ensured its energy security and turned into a reliable partner for world nations. "There are seven pipelines delivering Azerbaijan`s oil and gas to world markets, and all of them are operating," noted Aliyev.
Touching on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, President Aliyev said Baku`s positions on the issue strengthened last year.
"The resolution backing Azerbaijan`s stance passed by the UN General Assembly was a political and diplomatic success, and the Moscow declaration signed by the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents was a continuation of this success," Aliyev said, adding that the provisions of the document fully reflected Baku`s position and targeted a conflict resolution complying with international law.
In 2009, Azerbaijan`s defense spending was increased to $2.3 billion.
Aliyev cited the presidential election as one of last year`s milestones and said its outcome showed that citizens support the policies of the incumbent government.
Also, the president stressed that no outside forces could interfere with Azerbaijan`s affairs.
"Azerbaijan is an independent state. We will continue pursuing an independent policy and will not allow anyone to meddle in our internal affairs.
"In spite of all the pressure and baseless allegations and, at times, sinister libel campaigns, we have not diverted from our path because the Azerbaijani people supported us. The history of the past five years has shown who was right and who has been making an effort in vain," Aliyev declared.
He did not elaborate, however, about which countries had been trying to put pressure on Azerbaijan and on which issues.
In conclusion, the president said one of the priorities set out by his administration for 2009 was minimizing the impact of the global economic crisis on Azerbaijan. Once again underscoring the country`s successful energy policy, he noted that Azerbaijan has now turned into a gas exporter. If an agreement on the transportation and transit of Azerbaijani gas is signed this year, Azerbaijan will begin exporting fuel to Greece and Bulgaria.
Azerbaijan`s current gas reserves amount to at least 2 trillion cubic meters.
Aliyev told a cabinet meeting on the outcomes of the country`s socio-economic development last year that the year`s progress had been the result of substantial work done to boost Azerbaijan`s development.
The president emphasized that the income of the country`s population increased 36% while the minimum wage and minimum pensions rose by 50% and the poverty rate in the country decreased in 2008.
The average monthly wage in Azerbaijan has reached $335, while the average pension is $120.
As a result of the success of the state program on socio-economic development of the regions, the national economy has been diversified and new infrastructure projects launched, Aliyev said, stressing that a new program for the next five years is being prepared.
766,000 jobs have been created in Azerbaijan during the past five years, including 548,000 permanent positions. In 2008 alone, over 120,000 jobs were created.
The president said it would be unacceptable to link Azerbaijan`s rapid growth with the oil and gas sector alone. He noted that a thought out policy, efforts to protect the country`s national interests and democratic reforms were the foundation for this development.
Aliyev went on to say that despite the financial meltdown that has hit economies worldwide, Azerbaijan`s state budget for 2009 has increased. This year`s state spending amounts to $15.4 billion, while Azerbaijan`s currency reserves exceed $18 billion.
The head of state said the resource-rich South Caucasus republic`s successes in the energy sector have bolstered its positions on the world stage. Azerbaijan has fully ensured its energy security and turned into a reliable partner for world nations. "There are seven pipelines delivering Azerbaijan`s oil and gas to world markets, and all of them are operating," noted Aliyev.
Touching on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, President Aliyev said Baku`s positions on the issue strengthened last year.
"The resolution backing Azerbaijan`s stance passed by the UN General Assembly was a political and diplomatic success, and the Moscow declaration signed by the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents was a continuation of this success," Aliyev said, adding that the provisions of the document fully reflected Baku`s position and targeted a conflict resolution complying with international law.
In 2009, Azerbaijan`s defense spending was increased to $2.3 billion.
Aliyev cited the presidential election as one of last year`s milestones and said its outcome showed that citizens support the policies of the incumbent government.
Also, the president stressed that no outside forces could interfere with Azerbaijan`s affairs.
"Azerbaijan is an independent state. We will continue pursuing an independent policy and will not allow anyone to meddle in our internal affairs.
"In spite of all the pressure and baseless allegations and, at times, sinister libel campaigns, we have not diverted from our path because the Azerbaijani people supported us. The history of the past five years has shown who was right and who has been making an effort in vain," Aliyev declared.
He did not elaborate, however, about which countries had been trying to put pressure on Azerbaijan and on which issues.
In conclusion, the president said one of the priorities set out by his administration for 2009 was minimizing the impact of the global economic crisis on Azerbaijan. Once again underscoring the country`s successful energy policy, he noted that Azerbaijan has now turned into a gas exporter. If an agreement on the transportation and transit of Azerbaijani gas is signed this year, Azerbaijan will begin exporting fuel to Greece and Bulgaria.
Azerbaijan`s current gas reserves amount to at least 2 trillion cubic meters.
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