Azerbaijan holds an independent policy, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said March 19.
President Aliyev was delivering speech at the nationwide festivities on the occasion of the national holiday of Azerbaijani people - Novruz holiday.

"The independence for us is the greatest property and value,” the president said. “Azerbaijani people have lived for centuries as part of other countries, empires, but they were able to maintain their national peculiarities. First of all, we were able to maintain our national values, holidays, literature, art, native language, ourselves as a nation. Today we are free.”
“Azerbaijani people are the masters of their own destiny,” the president said. “The current realities show that only in the period of independence, our people can reach the success. If we review our history, the current period is a period of rapid development. We will continue ensuring our independent life. We will ensure prosperity for our people."

President Aliyev said that of course, as far as Azerbaijan is strengthened, the pressure on the country is also increased.

"Not everyone likes our independent policy,” the president said. “Therefore, the pressure on our country is increased and the pressure is used. As a result, today some foreign circles hold an open campaign against Azerbaijan. We are ready for this. In fact, this campaign has never been stopped.”

“Just on the eve of the important international events, this campaign becomes uglier,” the president said. “We faced this three years ago - in 2012 on the eve of the Eurovision song contest. Today we see this again on the eve of the first European Games. This is an anti-Azerbaijani campaign in a coordinated form. It is managed from one or more centers. It aims at tarnishing, discrediting our country, casting a shadow on our business and presenting Azerbaijan as a backward, non-democratic, non-free country. Of course, all this is based on a lie. Therefore, neither the people of Azerbaijan, nor the world community believes in this.”

President Aliyev said that the Azerbaijani people see everything.

"The recent development, the improvement of our cities, economic and social development of the country, the growth of our international credibility are available,” the president said. “At the same time, our business is not a secret for the world community. The numerous events, exhibitions, conferences, presentation of Azerbaijani culture in foreign countries also create the conditions to provide the international community with full information about Azerbaijan. But despite this, we see that the so-called experts, politicians, former state officials, media outlets declared a kind of the Cold War against Azerbaijan. I would like to reiterate that all these attempts are futile and can not lead to anything. There is no power in the world that is able to influence the will of the Azerbaijani people."
President Aliyev said that all freedoms are ensured in Azerbaijan.

"A free society has been formed in Azerbaijan,” the president said. “Everyone is free. Free press has been ensured. There are no restrictions on the Internet. Free internet is available. The freedom of assembly has been ensured. As opposed to some countries, the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion have been fully ensured. But just look at the situation in the countries, where some circles are trying to blame us. Just yesterday, hundreds of protesters were beaten, insulted and arrested in the center of Europe. In other places, people are strangled, shot and killed. And no one is responsible for this.
“Where are those non-governmental organizations, which accuse us? the president said. “Why are they silent? Why do not they give their voice? Why do not they blame these countries? Do not they have the courage or is it the policy of double standards?! Perhaps, both of them. Why do not the international organizations disseminate statements? Why are not the resolutions adopted? It is difficult to get the answers to these questions.”

“I openly ask them these questions at the numerous meetings with foreign colleagues, as well as with the heads of international organizations,” the president said. “Perhaps, this is the reason of exerting more pressure on Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, hypocrisy, double standards, discrimination, racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia, rather than the international law prevail in the world politics today. These are today`s realities. Therefore, we must be ready for this and we are ready. We are strengthening and developing our country. I would like to reiterate that all freedoms, including political freedom, freedom of conscience, economic freedom are available in Azerbaijan. Today, Azerbaijan is an exemplary country in terms of both economic development and inter-religious dialogue.”

President Aliyev said that today everything is burning in the fire, namely, the Middle East, Europe and the CIS area.

“Either bloody clashes or confrontations on ethnic, religious basis, mutual accusations are available,” the president said. "You can see that the representatives of all nationalities and religions live like one family in Azerbaijan. This is our policy, people`s order. Today, Azerbaijan has become an important country for the world. The number of the countries supporting us on the international arena is growing steadily. Azerbaijan was elected to the UN Security Council - the most influential organization in the world with the support of 155 countries. Let the countries, trying to blame us, try to be elected with the support of 155 countries. We will see whether they will succeed.

“That is the reality,” the president said. “Of course, such injustice, double standards, hypocrisy and political incivility upset the Azerbaijani people. However, this will never affect our will. The European Games are just an excuse. As if there are some external forces believing that we do not deserve this, despite we have taken a great responsibility. It is very difficult to prepare these games for two and a half years. These games will be held at the level of the Olympic Games. Seven years are given for the preparation for the Olympic Games. We are doing this for two and a half years. We are doing this with the low-budget."
President Aliyev said that the reason of the protests in the center of Europe yesterday was the construction of a building.

"The funds, we have spent on the preparation for the European Games, have been spent there on a single building,” the president said. “Where is the ‘Transparency International’? Why do they keep silent? There is one infrastructure facility associated with transport in Europe. It has been built for ten years. They spent twice as much than we spent on the preparation for the European Games. The construction has not been completed yet. Why does nobody talk about this? Why does nobody write about this? These are rhetorical questions.”

“But we have to ask these questions and we ask because we stand for justice,” the president said. “The justice must be everywhere - in a society, family and international relations. If the justice is violated, then everything is violated. The faith is being undermined. It is like a new system of values which is being formed in the world. There is an unfair approach instead of justice, inequality instead of equality, the hypocrisy and lie instead of truth. We are fighting against this. Of course, Azerbaijan is a small country. But we have enough power to make our presence felt and to influence the current processes in the region and on the continent."

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