Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony to mark the supply of drinking water to Naftalan

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the ceremony to mark the supply of drinking water to Naftalan.

First, the President met with representatives of the Naftalan District public.

Congratulating representatives of the district public, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- I sincerely greet you. A remarkable event is taking place in the city of Naftalan today – we are celebrating the inauguration of the drinking water project. In connection with this wonderful event, I sincerely congratulate you. I am sure that this project will be very important for Naftalan residents.

Drinking water projects are being implemented everywhere in Azerbaijan. We have already managed to ensure drinking water supplies in various cities. In some places it is being implemented and in others, preparatory work in under way.

However, this important project will be implemented completely. Drinking water is the main factor in people’s health.

These projects implemented at state expense are a great contribution to people’s health and a sign of a strong social policy. As you know, in recent months and weeks, I have participated in the inauguration of drinking water and sewerage projects in various parts of our country. This wonderful event is taking place in Naftalan as well today. I am sure that in the near future, we will ensure supplies of clean drinking water in all our cities. I would like to say once again that it is a contribution to people’s health. But you probably know that these projects require a lot of funds. The Azerbaijani state is allocating these funds from the state budget to make sure that people are healthy, do not fall sick and are provided with clean drinking water. The standards are at a very high level. All work is being carried out in line with the standards of the World Health Organization. Thus, this important infrastructure project is being implemented in Naftalan.

Other infrastructure projects are also being implemented in the city – roads are being built. Naftalan is 100 per cent gasified. That’s to say there is not a single house that has not been gasified. This is an important event. In the next few years, it is planned to take additional measures to develop the city.

This is my third visit to Naftalan. I am very glad that renovation work is under way in the city. This square has totally new appearance. A beautiful Heydar Aliyev Centre has been built. We will now open it. The renovation of the city, the building of streets and the creation of parks make me happy, especially in a place like Naftalan which has beautiful scenery.

When a city was planned here, town-planning work was carried out with great proficiency. For this reason, in the current period we just need to restore the buildings that once became unusable. We need to renovate all alleys and roads and include the city on the list of the most modern world-class cities.

As you know, Naftalan used to be a nationwide resort. The sanatoria operating here catered for tens of thousands of people. There was a big influx of people here from various parts of the Soviet Union. This is why Naftalan received status as a city. After that, as you know, it slightly lagged behind in this field. Displaced persons suffering from Armenian occupation moved here. They settled in all sanatoria. This is natural because the problems of our countrymen, who were in the most difficult situation, had to be dealt with in the first place. However, today this problem has been solved. We provided the displaced persons, who once settled in Naftalan, with new houses and flats, and new hotels are now being created in the sanatoria that have been vacated.

New recreational centres are being opened. When we last came here, we opened the Chinar and Gashalti sanatoria. Today I will inspect the refurbishment of the Karabakh sanatorium. I am very glad that the words I once uttered and the offers I once made are becoming a reality. I said that all the sanatoria that once operated should be reconstructed and restored.

If restoration work is impossible, they should be built again and we must turn Naftalan into a world-class resort. We are gradually achieving this, because after the Karabakh sanatorium or to be more precise, the new Karabakh Hotel starts to operate, there will be three big recreational centres here, and all three of them meet the highest world standards. Thus, we will restore the past glory of Naftalan at a higher level, with higher quality and at a more modern level. Along with that, all other infrastructure projects in the city should be, and are being, realized.

As I said, gasification is 100 per cent and drinking water is being supplied. There are many residential buildings here. They will all be refurbished. Some of them have already been refurbished. There will be no unrepaired buildings left here.

Naftalan is not a big city. Its population is a bit more than 9,000. Therefore, all our strategy will be, and is being, completely implemented in a short time here. Work is being carried out to create a social infrastructure here. A kindergarten has been built. Schools should be refurbished and at the same time, it is necessary to refurbish the city hospital. This issue will probably be resolved soon. In a word, all the necessary measures will continue to be taken to develop the city and state funds will be allocated.

I would like to say once again that Naftalan is already turning into one of the centres of tourism in Azerbaijan. In general, our country has great potential for developing tourism. Our country is a beautiful country and has beautiful nature and climate. It has a lot of sights to see.

Several centres of tourism are already taking shape in Azerbaijan. Of course, the first centre is the city of Baku. In the last two years, six five-star hotels were opened in Baku. In no other city, have six five-star hotels ever been opened in two years.

A third hotel is being refurbished in Naftalan now. Six hotels will be operating in the Shahdag resort. Three five-star hotels will be ready for this season.

Gabala has turned into a centre of tourism. Sheki, Lankaran and Galalti used to be famous centres of tourism. The medicinal water there is of great importance. It is also being restored. That’s to say there are opportunities to receive any treatment in various parts of our country. When new infrastructure is created, the number of tourists will increase, of course.

As far as I know, the flow of tourists to the new operating hotels is increasing. It will increase even more. That’s to say advertising should be carried out correctly here, because countries are currently competing to attract tourists. That’s to say the arrival of tourists is a contribution to the economy of each country. I believe that the world will get extensive information about Naftalan in the near future. Of course, the level of services should be high and the entire infrastructure should be wonderful here. Everything should be wonderful, modern and at a high level like we are achieving this in all parts of Azerbaijan. This project – I would like to say once again - has a purely social meaning and is designed for the health, comfort and happy future of people.

I sincerely greet you again. I congratulate you on this remarkable event.

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The chief doctor of the Naftalan Sanatorium-Resort Association, Hatam Gojayev, thanked President Ilham Aliyev for his attention to the development of the city and said:

- Mr President, welcome to our city. This is another visit of yours to our city. Our infrastructure has changed so much.

President Ilham Aliyev: It has changed a lot. It is impossible to recognize this square. When I first came here, it was completely different.

There was a small museum here. The square was not like this. Now it is one of the most beautiful squares. We went to the other side as well.

The streets there were built at the time.

Hatam Gojayev: Yes. Everything has changed in the city now. It is very beautiful. New sanatoria have been built and opened. It is very good that we can receive the most authoritative guests today, Mr President. The number of those who come here for treatment is increasing day by day.

President Ilham Aliyev: Where do they come from the most? From abroad or from Azerbaijan?

Hatam Gojayev: There are people who come from abroad. In six months of the past year, more than 3,000 people came here for treatment. In six months of this year, the number exceeded 6,000.

President Ilham Aliyev: 6,000 in six months.

Hatam Gojayev: Yes, about 1,500 of them are foreign citizens.

President Ilham Aliyev: In Soviet times, about 50,000-60,000 came here.

Hatam Gojayev: Yes, up to 75,000 people came here.

President Ilham Aliyev: There were tourist vouchers at the time. People came with free vouchers. Now those who come here pay money.

Hatam Gojayev: They pay money, of course. This is a great job, Mr President. May God give you strong health! This is happening thanks to you and on your instructions. A new Karabakh sanatorium is under construction.

President Ilham Aliyev: It is jobs for those who live here.

Hatam Gojayev: Yes. Of course, it is new jobs. People’s welfare has increased. There is almost no unemployment in Naftalan.

President Ilham Aliyev: I remember that when I first came here, the situation here was not that heartwarming. The city was half-ruined. All buildings and streets were in a poor condition and there was no electricity, as if I had come to a devastated city.

Hatam Gojayev: Now we have no problems.

President Ilham Aliyev: But now I saw how beautiful the city is and how correctly it was planned. I myself also said in my speech that town-planning was carried out correctly here. Simply, we should restore them and bring them in line with the new infrastructure. Today there are still several buildings that do not meet the general development of the city. But investors will probably refurbish these buildings as well, because there should not be a single inappropriate building here.

Hatam Gojayev: Thank you very much, Mr President. We are grateful to you. This shows how much you care about our people. May God give you strong health!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

A doctor of the Gashalti sanatorium, Shahin Babayev, thanked President Ilham Aliyev for his attention and care about the development of Naftalan and said:

- Dear Mr President. As you said a short while ago, a wonderful project is being implemented today. Our city always suffered from a shortage of drinking water. Water was supplied with intervals for three or four hours a day. Thanks to your attention and care, drinking spring water was supplied to our city in a very short time. The city’s population is now supplied with drinking water 24 hours a day.

I express my profound thanks to you on behalf of all Naftalan residents once again.

Naftalan is steadily developing like the development taking place in our entire region. This is a reality and it makes us happy. It makes us happy because the fate of our country is linked with you. We thank you once again. May God protect you!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

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The head physician of the Naftalan sanatorium association, Khatam Gojayev, and a physician of the "Gashalti" sanatorium, Shahin Babayev, thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the care and attention being paid to the development of Naftalan.

Then, President Ilham Aliyev reviewed the stands describing the project on the reconstruction of water supply and sewerage systems of Naftalan.

The head of the "AzerSu" OJSC, Gorkhmaz Huseynov, noted that water and sewage systems had been commissioned here in 1970. Drinking water is supplied to the city through the Chakil drainage gallery and artesian wells. The water network in Naftalan is 47 km long. The 16-km sewage network covers a small part of the city and is not usable. Naftalan has a population of 9,000 people, 81 per cent of whom are provided with drinking water in a centralized manner. Drinking water is supplied to the population of the city on a schedule of four to five hours a day. The project on the reconstruction of water supply and sewage systems of Naftalan is part of the project on "Water supply and sanitation of small towns" co-funded by the Government of Azerbaijan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

It was noted that with a view to long-term development up to 2035, the project is expected to dramatically improve water supply and sewage services provided to a total of 13,000 people, including 9,800 people in Naftalan and 3,200 in the villages of Gasimbayli and Gashalti- Garagoyunlu. According to the project, drinking water is supplied to the city and surrounding villages from a new source, Balligaya. To ensure sustainable water supply to the city, an 8-km water line has been laid from the Balligaya-Goranboy main and two reservoirs with a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters each have been built. In accordance with the project, the city receives 54 liters of water per second, which is enough to fully meet the needs of the population. To ensure the drainage of the accumulating wastewater and sewage, a 33-km sewage network will be set up. To date, work has been completed on a 10-km stretch of the network. A wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters per day will be built as well. Work on the project is scheduled for completion in early 2015.

President Ilham Aliyev launched the installation supplying drinking water to the city of Naftalan.

In conclusion, a photo was taken as a souvenir.