Azernews.Az

The inaugural ceremony of Ilham Aliyev, who has been re-elected as president of Azerbaijan, was held Friday.
The swearing-in of Aliyev, who was overwhelmingly elected for a second five-year term during October 15 presidential elections, took place at the Heydar Aliyev Palace of Baku, which has recently reopened after being renovated.
Speaking before Constitutional Court judges, Aliyev swore to fulfill his presidential duties, abide by the Constitution of the Azerbaijan Republic, protect the country's independence and territorial integrity, and serve the Azerbaijani people.
During his 50-minute inaugural speech, Aliyev pledged to continue the policy of the late national leader, President Heydar Aliyev, of promoting the country's national interests. He said the work launched in the past five years would be continued, adding that the country's foreign political course would also remain unchanged. Baku, he noted, would not back down on its principled stance on the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict with Armenia.
The president said Azerbaijan's territorial integrity would never be a subject of discussion, reiterating that independence of the Armenia-occupied Upper Garabagh region was ruled out. "Never -- not today, tomorrow, or in 10 or 50 years -- will Upper Garabagh be granted independence."
However, the president indicated that Azerbaijan was interested in coming to a negotiated settlement to the long-standing conflict.
"We still believe negotiations might lead to a fair solution of the problem," he said, but added that secession of Upper Garabagh, an ancient Azerbaijani land, was out of the question.
"We will strengthen our statehood and restore our territorial integrity. International law is on our side," Aliyev said.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have been fruitless so far.
He emphasized that an intense build-up of the army was underway in the country. Whereas Azerbaijan's defense spending made up only $163 million in 2003, the figure reached $1.850 billion in 2008 and is set to further increase, the commander-in-chief said.
Aliyev warned that as long as it occupies part of Azerbaijan's territory, Armenia would remain isolated from regional projects.
Thanking the Azerbaijani people for their support, he promised to continue doing everything in his power to ensure the country's developing relations with foreign countries. He also extended his gratitude to other presidential nominees who congratulated him on his victory at the polls.
Aliyev said the October 15 elections had promoted the formation of a new political culture, expressing confidence that civilized political rivalries would continue in Azerbaijan.
President Aliyev added that defending Azerbaijan's independent course and national interests, as well as furthering political and economic reforms, would remain the fundamental principles of his policy.
He noted that there were solid pre-conditions for Azerbaijan's filling the ranks of the world's most developed countries.
"We have all it takes for that - talented people, a transparent policy, economic power, natural wealth, and [suitable] geographic location," he said.
The president said a great deal of work had been done in Azerbaijan in the area of political reforms, noting that political and economic reforms should be carried out in parallel. Azerbaijan has secured leadership in the world for economic growth in the past four years. The country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased 2.7 times during this period. As of 2008, per capita GDP will make up $6,000. Moreover, industrial production has increased 2.7 times. Azerbaijan's state budget has increased more than ten times in the past five years. Whereas in 2003, it accounted for $1.2bn, the indicator totals $15bn in 2008.
Azerbaijan's currency reserves, which were $1.6bn in 2003, have now reached $17bn. $44bn has been invested in Azerbaijan over the past five years, or 77% of total investments channeled into the national economy since the republic gained independence in 1991.
Aliyev noted that the formation of a middle class in Azerbaijan has become a reality. Success has been achieved in the country's non-oil sector, as well. Azerbaijan is meeting 90% to 95% of its needs for food through domestic farming, while some types of products are exported.
Aliyev believes Azerbaijan is fully meeting its economic needs today. Also, over the past five years the minimum pension has quadrupled, while the minimum wage increased eight times, and average salaries rose 3.6 times.
The president said that together with economic development, the priority goal for him is the reduction of poverty. In fact, poverty levels fell from 49% in 2003 to just 16% in 2007. The government's pledge to create 600,000 jobs has been fulfilled, as 741,000 people have been employed, including 531,000 permanent positions.
According to the head of state, whereas 15.4 million tons of oil were produced in Azerbaijan in 2003, output is predicted at over 50 million tons by the end of 2008. As for gas production, the figure, which was 5.5bn cubic meters five years ago, is expected to make up 20bn cubic meters by year-end.
"Azerbaijan has ensured its energy security. We have turned from importers of energy into exporters," he said.
Dignitaries attending the inauguration ceremony included Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Camil Cicek, Head of the Russian Presidential Administration, Sergei Narishkin, Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, Sergei Lebedev, and Robert Simmons, NATO's representative on South Caucasus and Central Asia.
The inaugural ceremony and the entire pre-election process were rather low-key. The number of foreign visitors was not huge, and, unlike the previous elections held in 2003, no concert was organized on the Azadlig (Freedom) Square to mark the holding of elections.
Seven candidates stood in the election, which was monitored by local and international observers. According to election tallies, Ilham Aliyev won Azerbaijan's sixth presidential election by gaining 3,232,259 votes, amounting to 88.73% of the ballots cast.
The first Azerbaijani president to be sworn-in was Ayaz Mutallibov in 1991. He was followed by Abulfaz Elchibay and twice by Heydar Aliyev. Ilham Aliyev was first sworn-in following 2003 elections.
Under the Constitution, with the new head of state embarking on his duties, Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers resigned on Friday. President Aliyev thereby signed a decree empowering members of the incumbent cabinet to fulfill their duties until a new government is formed.
Under constitutional requirements, the president is to forward the candidacy of a new prime minister to the Milli Majlis (parliament) for consideration no later than one month after his inauguration. The legislature is to pass a decision on the nomination no later than one week thereafter. If it rejects candidacies offered by the president three times, the head of state will appoint the premier without parliamentary approval.