The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev: With new stage of "Absheron" gas condensate field Azerbaijan signs important event in its oil and gas strategy.

Azerbaijan is a country that first produced oil by industrial means in the middle of the XIX century. For the first time in history, oil from offshore fields was extracted in Azerbaijan in the middle of the XX century. However, if we look at history, we will see that the oil produced in Azerbaijan at that time did not serve the interests of Azerbaijani people. Since in the days of tsarist Russia, the rich became richer, and the poor got into even more difficult condition, people's work was very difficult. Once again, the oil produced in Azerbaijan did not serve the interests of Azerbaijani people. If Azerbaijan were independent country at that time, our country could become the richest country in the world. At that time, rich oil magnates spent part of their income on charity, in particular, they were Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, Mukhtarov, Asadullayev. As you know, Taghiyev laid the Shollar water pipeline in Baku, and, at the same time, he attached great importance to education. Since he saw that Azerbaijani youth remains out of education, and, thus, in the future, their development and making their way to high positions may be problematic. He occupies special place among the oil magnates of Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev's grandfather, Aziz Aliyev, was born in poor family on the territory of Iravan khanate, ancient Azerbaijani land, and wanted to study. However, he had no money to study. At that time, he addressed a letter to Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev and asked for financial assistance. He wanted to be a doctor. Of course, Taghiyev did not know him, but as patriot, good man, he sent him money, with which Aziz Aliyev entered the St. Petersburg Military Medical Academy, where he got education, became excellent doctor, outstanding statesman. During the Second world war, he was appointed to the position of the first secretary in Dagestan, and during the war led Dagestan. At that time, it was planned to exile Dagestanis, as well other peoples of the Caucasus. Actually, this decision was already made by the Soviet leadership. It is thanks to the activities of Aziz Aliyev and his bold steps that Dagestanis were able to avoid this disaster. Today, he is remembered in Dagestan, a monument is erected in his honour. Even in the last years of the Soviet Union, great injustice was committed against Azerbaijan. Especially, the executioner of Azerbaijani people, Gorbachev, and his entourage treated our country with hatred. There was a feeling of great hatred not only for Azerbaijanis, but also for all the Muslims, I know that for sure. As a result, two weeks after Heydar Aliyev was removed from political bureau, Armenians put forward the demands for the separation of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan and unification of this territory with Armenia. Heydar Aliyev factor did not allow them to make trouble. However, almost all of Gorbachev's inner circle consisted of Armenians, and necessary steps were not taken against this unfounded demand. On the contrary, at that time, Gorbachev government completely supported Armenians, and it was then that the first steps were taken to separate Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan. Some people in Azerbaijan probably do not remember or do not know about it, but this story needs to be known. At that time, Soviet leadership decided to create special committee in Nagorno - Karabakh, to which Gorbachev's assistant Volsky was appointed. Volsky was a radical pro-Armenian person and did everything possible to make historical heritage of Azerbaijan disappear from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. At that time Azerbaijanis were forcibly expelled from some territories of Nagorno-Karabakh. The first manifestations of the policy of ethnic cleansing appeared in Khankandi, and we can say that Azerbaijanis were expelled from Khankandi while Volsky was there. I mean that, in such a way, it was possible to separate Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan. At that time, Mikoyans and similar anti-Azerbaijani elements in Moscow tried to hide the heroism of Azerbaijanis in every possible way. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to legendary partisan Mehdi Huseynzada several years after the war, and at the insistence of Azerbaijani side. When I was in Slovenia, I visited his grave. We had a great ceremony there. I saw there Slovenes who fought with him. They shed tears. I talked to them because I was very interested in their impressions. They said that such a hero had never been born. That is, he was hidden, and it was done deliberately. We have very effectively placed the oil revenues, protect them and strengthen our army. Therefore, the advantages of the independence are obvious. If someone remembers past times with love because of some nostalgia, then we must give these people decent answers. Every person who opposes the independence and tries to insult it betrays our state. The independence is our main value, and the stronger and more powerful we are, the stronger our independence will be. At that time, Baku, Absheron peninsula, and Sumgayit city were presented as the zones of ecological disaster, and in fact there was ecological disaster. Many events are now forgotten. But the most oil-polluted area was Bibi-Heybat bay. At present Bibi-Heybat bay has turned into beautiful parks and recreation areas. Bibi-Heybat village is now reconstructed in fact. I.e., Bibi-Heybat bay was the zone of ecological disaster, and many people probably remember this picture. Another zone of ecological disaster was Balakhany and its oil fields. Look now, Balakhany has turned into beautiful village, the work there is almost completed. I will go there myself and see how my instructions are carried out. Not only Balakhany, but all the villages. I said that all the villages in Baku should be improved, better conditions for people should be created there, all the problems that people are concerned about should be solved, and these villages should be in accordance with modern level aesthetically. All historical monuments should be restored in the villages, and we will give these villages new life. Let's remember Balakhany dump. The smoke coming from there covered all the city, it was a poison. When I started looking into this matter, some people said it was impossible to put it out. Because the dump is burning from below, and gases are formed there, this is very dangerous place, you cannot get close. Somebody offered to build sarcophagus over it. I.e., there were also such silly offers. However, we have also found a solution to this problem. The dump was completely cleaned. Now beautiful park has been built there and incineration plant has started functioning. Next to it, part of the next zone of ecological disaster, Boyukshor lake, was cleaned. This was also ecological disaster, since it was open oil reservoir, and, at the same time, all the sewage water flowed there. And now there is a boulevard, and birds land on this lake. Today in Azerbaijan, at the request of Mr. President, "black gold" is turning into human capital, serving the citizens. The oil is not a goal, but the means to create better life, build better country, and create better conditions. We are to turn the zones of ecological disasters into the zones of ecological paradise, and we do and will continue to do so.