Natural choice

The fifth congress of the ruling party during which members of New Azerbaijan were to decide on their presidential candidate for the October election, proceeded without any commotion. Azerbaijan's economic and foreign policy achievements of the past years spoke for themselves and indicated that the party leadership would want to see Ilham Aliyev once again as its chairman and the president. 

And this is exactly what happened. In his programme speech, Ilham Aliyev, who is confident in his election victory, outlined Azerbaijan's priorities for the foreseeable future. 

For the past 20 years, Azerbaijan has gone a successful way of multi-faceted development. The country now has a reputation as a reliable international partner. The country achieved particularly impressive results in its foreign policy and economy in the past 10 years. 

"Over the past ten years Azerbaijan has achieved a particularly speedy pace of development. No other country in the world has achieved as much as did Azerbaijan. These achievements are multi-faceted and incorporate all spheres, including foreign and domestic policies, political and economic reforms - in all these areas Azerbaijan is developing successfully, confidently and decisively," Aliyev said. 

Statistics provided by Azerbaijan, as well as all influential international organizations, point to the high pace of economic development. Azerbai-jan's experience is viewed as a role model for the countries that are experiencing difficulties in their development. 

At the expense of its economic reforms Azerbaijan has managed to achieve the fastest economic development in the world: over the 10 years, the country's economy grew by more than three times. Poverty, that had affected almost half of the population, was reduced to 6 per cent and unemployment fell to 5.2 per cent. In addition, over 1.1 million new jobs were created.  The foreign exchange reserves have reached 46.5bn, which is about 70 per cent of the GDP. The foreign exchange reserves are sufficient for financing imports of goods and services for three years at a time when the accepted standard in the world is 3 to 4 months. At the same time, the volume of foreign exchange reserves exceeds the state debt 10 times at a time when the correlation is reverse in almost all developed countries. 

It is not accidental that all international rating agencies have raised Azerbaijan's credit ratings to the investment level. According to competitiveness, the country now comes 46th in the world. Over the past 10 years, the average salary in Azerbaijan has increased fivefold and the average pension - eightfold. 

"Azerbaijani citizens are at the centre of our policy. We are carrying out very serious reforms. From history and the current developments in a number of countries we know that such economic reforms often lead to mass protests as often they are carried out in disregard of people's interests. We, on the other hand, have carried out economic reforms - 83 per cent of our economy is formed at the expense of the private sector. At the same time, we have implemented strong social programmes. The fact that we have returned to people the money they deposited at the central bank in the Soviet period, is another demonstration of this policy," he said. 

Azerbaijan, which is at the crossing of the important East-West junction, is taking steps to ensure transport and energy security of the region. 

In this connection, the completion of the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will change the transport map of the region and the continent. 

"Again, Azerbaijan is the initiator and the main partner in this project. Every single step in our energy policy is well-thought-out. Currently, we are working with Europe in resolving energy security issues of the continent. Azerbaijan is the main participant and initiator of the Southern Gas Corridor. The decisions taken in Azerbaijan will give a major importance for the energy security," the president said. 

As for the foreign policy, over the past 10 years, Azerbaijan has managed to fare exceedingly well on the international scene. It was elected as a member of the UN Security Council. "This is a victory of our diplomacy, policy and statehood. There is no higher institution than this. Last may Azerbaijan presided over this influential agency," the president said. 

"Currently, we are set to resolve global problems. Our position is of great importance. In the organizations of which we are members we pursue our interests but we also greatly contribute to the development of these organizations from the political and other viewpoints," Aliyev said. 

In bilateral relations, Baku's policy is based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's domestic affairs. "Each country should be interested in maintaining stability, peace and calm around it, so that domestic developments proceed in normal circumstances," Aliyev said. 

Certainly, freeing Armenian-occupied territories and the resolution of the Karabakh conflict within the norms of the international law are still top priorities. 

"Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is not and will not be an issue of negotiations. Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity at any cost. The conflict can only be regulated on the basis of the norms and principles of the international law and the four resolutions of the UN Security Council. No other option can be accepted. I am certain that we will resolve this issue. Our increasing foreign and domestic power, military prowess and economic development will condition our victory," he said. 

Armenia cannot counter anything to Azerbaijan's growing might and is increasingly falling into an abyss. 

As a result of the deplorable condition of its national economy, about 100,000 citizens leave Armenia every year. All these factors, coupled with Azerbaijan's increasing might, will play a role in returning Karabakh and other Azerbaijani lands to its legitimate owner. 

"This simply requires time, a strong policy and an uncompromising policy based on our national interests. Only our government can withstand all pressure, threats and provocations," Aliyev said. He once again emphasized the importance of the choice voters will have to make this October. 

In general, during his speech, the president made it clear that he awaits the election filled with a firm faith in his victory, based on the support from his comrades from the party, and the overwhelming majority of the population of his country who have come to appreciate the advantages of the political and economic stability in recent years. 

For the past ten years Aliyev has maintained a lead in various social opinion surveys carried out by Azerbaijani, as well as foreign polling centres and the media. The president's ratings stably go over 70 per cent. None of his opponents can achieve the same level of support from the population. 

Unlike his potential rivals from the opposition, the incumbent leader has come up with a specific platform of the country's development in the foreseeable future. 

"In all directions we have specific programmes, plans, concepts and mechanisms of implementation. At the beginning of the coming year, we will adopt the third state programme on labour opportunities in the region. As a result of the implementation of the first and the second programmes, our regions have been revived and the cities became prosperous and beautiful. Modern infrastructure is being created there. Our villages are prospering and infrastructure is being renewed there - including roads, schools, hospitals, Olympic facilities, gas supplies, electricity transmission lines and water. We are completely renewing the entire infrastructure so that the new infrastructure can serve the people for at least 500-100 years," Aliyev said. 

He said that diversification will continue to be the main direction in the economic policy. 

"Over the first four months of the current year, our non-oil sector grew by 11 per cent. This year, the oil sector is no longer dominant in our GDP. The industrialization process will become even faster in the future. We will create large industrial complexes. We set the task a few years ago: to completely provide for our food products. We are coming closer to this goal. We will continue to take serious steps in addressing social issues. We will continue raising salaries, pensions and welfare benefits. Work for improving the level of life of internally displaced persons will continue," the Azerbaijani leader said. 

The ruling party has made its first serious statement about the victory in the presidential election. The incumbent authorities will face the election with a number of successfully implemented initiatives and specific programmes for the future, not with empty talk. It is unlikely that the current president's potential rivals will be able to present such well-thought-out programmes of specific actions.