According to the official website of the president of Azerbaijan, the iftar ceremony was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev who made a speech:

'Your Eminence!

Dear religious figures!

Ladies and gentlemen!

Our meetings have become a wonderful tradition. I am confident that this tradition will continue in the future. These meetings, organized in the blessed month of Ramadan at the invitation of His Eminence Sheikh, are of great importance. It was noted that the relationship between religion and state in Azerbaijan has a sound basis. In the countries with a long history of statehood, these relations were established in previous centuries, in previous times.

Azerbaijan has been living in conditions of independence for just about 20 years, and the regulation of relations between religion and state requires great effort. I am very pleased that the solidarity, unity of the Azerbaijani people and the representatives of all nationalities living in Azerbaijan for centuries and living here today, were manifested itself in the independence period.

The relationship established between religion and state in the period of independence, provide the successful development of Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev made the tremendous efforts and carried out a huge work for the establishment and strengthening of these relations. His personal friendship with his Eminence Sheikh also made an enormous contribution to the establishment of relations between religion and state in Azerbaijan.

Today, representatives of all religions in Azerbaijan live as a single family. This is our big achievement, a great success. Sometimes we think that it must be like this everywhere.

But, unfortunately, it is not observed everywhere. In some places, in some countries we observe  conflicts, wars, clashes on religious grounds. I would like to repeat that representatives of all religions in Azerbaijan live in peace and brotherhood. These traditions are growing stronger, and I have no doubt that religious relations in Azerbaijan will be built at the proper level in the future.

We are the people, committed to our national values. We put our national and spiritual values above all. These values have played a crucial role in the formation of the Azerbaijani people. For centuries we have lived within other countries and have been deprived of independence. But despite this, we managed to preserve our dignity, national origin, religion, language, customs and traditions, and today these factors play an important role in the development of an independent country.

The repair and restoration works have recently been held at all religious monuments. Hundreds of new mosques have been built. The temples of other regions are built, reconstructed and will be constructed. This proves that there is no discrimination in Azerbaijan in this sphere. A person who loves his nation, respects his religion, must love people of other nationalities and have respect to other religions.

The construction of a strong state continues on this basis in Azerbaijan. It is not by accident that Azerbaijan started to play an important role in establishing and developing interreligious dialogue on the international arena. I am very glad that Azerbaijan’s achievements in this sphere are praised by the world community. These achievements allow us taking influential measures in this sphere in Azerbaijan. We have already spoken about it here. The jubilee of his Eminence was widely marked in Azerbaijan. Among our guests were religious leaders from different countries. The summit of world religions was held on the highest level in Azerbaijan.

We still get impressions, opinions and remembrances of this summit. This is rejoicing.

We want more events in the future, since I believe that Azerbaijan is a suitable place for the events on this issue.

There is a civil unity and civil accord in Azerbaijan. The country has made great success in the resolution of religious and national issues. This is our great achievement. We highly appreciate that. I believe that Azerbaijan’s achievements in this sphere, our experience can be studied in other areas and these processes have already started.

A year ago we met in this room and had an exchange of views. A year has passed very quickly. When His Eminence Sheikh invited me to Iftar, I thought that the year has gone so fast.

Why? Because this year there was filled with so many events.  The work in Azerbaijan is going so fast that sometimes we do not pay attention to how fast the time goes. But very positive processes have occurred in the country in all spheres throughout this year and Azerbaijan has grown stronger.

Despite the crisis which engulfed the world in 2009-2010, we were able to protect the population of Azerbaijan from the consequences of this crisis. We managed to provide a confident and dynamic development of Azerbaijan.

All social and economic programs in the country were proceeding according to the plan. There have not been any delays. All planned projects were implemented in a timely manner and at a high level. This shows that our country has reached a level where even worldwide problems do not affect us. The only reason for this is that we deliberately conduct our policies. Our policy is aimed at both the future and the settlement of problems facing the country today. All the steps taken have the same goal to make Azerbaijan stronger, to improve the welfare of the population of Azerbaijan, to strengthen the country's stability, strengthen security measures to ensure that the Azerbaijani people live peacefully, freely and safely. We have all opportunities to do this. Azerbaijan has had great success in state construction. We already have a strong state.

Azerbaijan ensures all liberties including freedom of conscience which is protected on the high level in Azerbaijan.

Democratic freedoms in Azerbaijan are being strengthened, these trends are worsening, which is a very important factor. Economic reforms are proceeding in the right direction. The best evidence of this is the achieved progress. Social issues are addressed.

Azerbaijan is expanding its ability to influence. Our influence in the international arena is growing, alongside the number of our partners. Azerbaijan has been perceived as a reliable partner on bilateral and multilateral basis for many years. That is the full development of the country has been ensured. The strategic directions of development have been defined. Special programs for each historical period and for future have been developed and are under implementation. That is why we have achieved all-round development of the country. All the problems of the country will gradually be resolved.

The main problem, the biggest problem we are facing now is the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Our unique position in this regard is further strengthening. The position of our country will naturally strengthen with the strengthening of Azerbaijan. Considering the fact that our position is based not on some unrealistic dream, but on the logic, international law, resolutions of the most influential international organizations, considering the fact that Azerbaijan has strengthened the possibility to influence the region by its activity and initiative and has gone through a long and successful path from an economic point of view, there is no doubt that we will achieve a just solution to this issue in accordance with international law and within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. I do not doubt it.

We need to make sure that every citizen, irrespective of the position, practical work, activity in his field serves to strengthening of our country and contributes to this issue. Azerbaijan faced this injustice for long years. Policy of ethnic cleansing was conducted against us.

Our citizens were forced to flee their historical lands. Unfortunately, this injustice continues. But I am absolutely convinced that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity.

I would like to reiterate my statement at the opening of the State flag square: the Flag of Azerbaijan will fly over Nagorno-Karabakh!

We have the right position. Azerbaijan is a peace-loving nation. We seek to establish relations with all countries based on mutual respect and we are achieving this. The ongoing processes in the country continue in a positive direction. Today's meeting is itself an excellent indicsuator. All peoples, representatives of all nations, and all religions in Azerbaijan live in amity and brotherhood. I have no doubt that this wonderful atmosphere will continue in Azerbaijan in the future. National relations, interfaith relations, as always, will be maintained on a high level in Azerbaijan.

On this day, again I turn to my friend - His Eminence Sheikh. I want to express my appreciation for the fact that His Eminence Sheikh has done important work in bringing the true affair of Azerbaijan to the attention of the world community. His credibility on the international level, respect for him are strengthening Azerbaijan.

This is confirmed by  great international events, held at the initiative of His Eminence Sheikh. I am very happy when I hear the good word about his Eminence Sheikh at the meetings with religious leaders  of the world and the heads of major states. This is a fair assessment and I am very pleased that His Eminence Sheikh is known and respected not only in Azerbaijan but also beyond it- in our region, the Caucasus region and in the neighborhood and worldwide. I wish my dear friend - his Eminence Sheikh - success in his future activities. I wish that all his dreams come true. I know that most sacred of his dream is the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation, the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Dear friends, I cordially welcome you on this wonderful day once again. The feast of Ramadan is nearing. In anticipation of this wonderful holiday I wish happiness, peace and prosperity to the people of Azerbaijan. Thank you'.

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