First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva meets IDP families

First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva met, April 26, with IDP families settled in Hostel №4 of the Medical University in Nasimi district and the Gobu Park Residential Complex laid out in Garadagh district.

First, Mehriban Aliyeva arrived at Hostel №4 of the Medical University to become familiarized with the living conditions of IDP. Over 150 families are residing in the hostel, where IDP from all districts that have been under occupation since 1993 are settled. IDP families highly appreciated the care and attention shown towards them by the state, saying they have always felt this support.

Underscoring that the works being carried out in this direction would continue, Mehriban Aliyeva said:

- Thank you for welcoming me in such a manner. Dear mothers, dear sisters, I love you very much. I will do my best for you. I’ve come to talk with you, and to know your problems. I promise, both the President and myself are at your side. I know that you have been living in unsuitable for living buildings, in harsh conditions. Believe me, a new roadmap is being developed on my instruction. Employees of the ministry, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Regional Development Public Association will visit all hostels, boarding houses, examine the situation, meet with people, find out all problems, and, if needed, I myself will visit all boarding houses.

Residents: May God protect You!

Mehriban Aliyeva: The most important issue that President Ilham Aliyev has been paying attention is improving living conditions of IDP and refugees. A lot has been done to date, over 300 thousand people have been provided with homes, and this will continue further. Positive dynamics has been observed recent years. Although 6126 apartments were commissioned in the course of 2017-2018, six thousand apartments will be commissioned during this year only.

Residents: May God protect You. Thank You very much.

Mehriban Aliyeva: I want to convey my great love to you.

Residents: All refugees, IDP are very pleased with You.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Thank you, I have been feeling that. Believe me, you are my source of strength. I am always at your side. This is my duty.

Residents: May God protect You. You have helped the people of Azerbaijan a lot. Thank You. We thank our President, May God protect you.

Mehriban Aliyeva visited the apartment of Murtuzali Yusufov, an internally displaced person from Gubadly district.

Mehriban Aliyeva: I have come personally to make sure that issues concerning your living conditions are solved in a short timeframe, and you are provided with normal living conditions. You know, both the state of Azerbaijan, the President and myself have been dealing with these problems in our daily activities. There are ways out of this situation. So far, a lot has been done, and over 300 thousand refugees and IDP were provided with apartments, and homes. But this problem still exists. We need to develop a programme to solve these problems in a systematic manner, in order to provide our fellow citizens with normal living conditions. I am ready to do my best in this direction. You will be provided with normal living conditions in a short span of time.

A resident: May God help You.

Mehriban Aliyeva visited also other families settled in Hostel No.4 of the Medical University, became closely acquainted with the living conditions here, listened to the requests of IDP families, and said they would soon be provided with new apartments.

The First Vice-president visited also Secondary School No.20 on the territory where the hostel is located. She met with teachers of the school where 131 pupils study.

Mehriban Aliyeva: I have personally come here to see the conditions in this hostel. I see it is very difficult to live in such conditions. You have long been living here. Therefore, in accordance with the plan, you will soon be provided with apartments in a newly laid out settlement in Gobu. I gave now all necessary instructions for locating the school there.

Residents: Thank You very much, may God help You.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Thank you very much. I want you to know that your words, support and your love are my source of strength. Seeing this, I am ready to work harder, and this is my duty. I’ll always be at your side.

Becoming closely acquainted with the living conditions of the IDP settled in Hostel No.4 of the Medical University, listening to their requests, Mehriban Aliyeva said necessary measures would be taken towards improving the living conditions of the people of this category.

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Then, Mehriban Aliyeva arrived at the Gobu Park Residential Complex laid out for IDP families in Garadagh district.

Mehriban Aliyeva met here with residents of the settlement, listened to their requests and gave necessary instructions towards their solution. It was noted that systematic works are being carried out constantly towards improving the living conditions of IDP, and issues concerning our fellow countrymen of this kind have a focus of attention for the state.

Thereafter, Mehriban Aliyeva visited the apartment of IDP Shamsiyya Mehdiyeva.

Mehriban Aliyeva: The Garabagh issue is the biggest problem of our country, being a constant focus of attention of the President. Solution of this conflict and problems of our fellow countrymen that were forced to lead a life of an IDP as a result of our lands’ fallen under occupation are our greatest duty.

Before coming here, I met with our fellow countrymen settled in a hostel in Baku. They have been living in very miserable and dangerous conditions. To provide them with normal living conditions is the most important duty of our state, the President, and myself too. All necessary works have been and will be carried out in this direction. To date, over 300 thousand people have been provided with homes, 103 new settlements and villages built. Villages consist of not only houses. Infrastructure for its creation – schools, kindergartens – have been built, water, gas and electricity lines laid, and asphalt roads built. Nevertheless, we still have people living in grave conditions, and we will do our utmost to improve their living conditions.

I am very happy today for being in such a nice settlement. I remember, we participated together in the opening of this place. I see you living in a very good, comfortable conditions. I wish every IDP and refugee to live in such conditions. How would we achieve this. I am confident, and we have a will and possibilities for it. All these issues will find their solutions in a consecutive manner. Insha’Allah, the Garabagh problem would find its solution peacefully, based on the norms and principles of international law, and our fellow countrymen would return to their homes. Providing all our fellow countrymen with normal living conditions and work are the basic duty of the state of Azerbaijan. Believe me, all necessary measures are being taken, works done. It is a long and difficult process, requiring a lot of financing. Nevertheless, all necessary actions are taken, and works in this direction continue. There is good and positive dynamics. Although 6126 apartments were commissioned in the course of 2017-2018, six thousand apartments will be commissioned during this year only, which means six thousand more families will enjoy better living conditions. I am very glad to see each of you. Should you have any problems or requests, I am always ready to help you, always being at your side.

A resident: Thanks to You, everything is good here, with beautiful conditions, and clean air. Thank You for your presents. May God grant You sound health.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Whose are these two nice kids? Very nice boys. I was just told that the kindergarten does not function. I’ll give instructions to make sure that the kindergarten starts functioning very soon. Its functioning is important.

A resident: Thank You very much. Thanks to You, we have no problem. We have very good conditions.

Another resident: Thank You very much for visiting our settlement. You have laid the foundation of this settlement.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Yes, we participated in its opening too.

A resident: I am a former Garabagh war fighter. Recent processes going on in the country, increase in the social aids are very rejoicing. We thank our respected President for increasing the social aid amounts for war veterans and invalids. Our living conditions here are good, we have no complaints. We have been provided with nice apartments. As a Garabagh war fighter, I am supporting the policy pursued by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. My fellow fighters too. We are always ready to liberate our lands, whenever our respected President deems necessary. At the same time, when analysing the current situation, we see that Azerbaijan is a leading state of the Caucasus, having a say in the world arena. Our current situation is due to the fault of the previous power. We are still suffering from it.

Mehriban Aliyeva: You are right. Had Heydar Aliyev been in power at that time, it would have never happened, and he would not have allowed it to happen.

A resident: If Heydar Aliyev had come to power in those years, we would not have suffered these troubles. I want to thank You and Mister President for continuing the course of our national leader Heydar Aliyev. May God grant You and respected President sound health.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Thank you very much. Please accept my thanks too. Both the President and myself have a great feeling of respect and love towards you. Solving all problems is a difficult and time-consuming process. Big financial support is required. And we want to solve the problems sooner, and implement all the actions included in the plan. I want to once more mention that we have a will, and all the problems will be solved in a systematic order. All our citizens, especially those suffering from the occupation, who have lost their homes and become refugees, and living in harsh conditions for long years understand this very well. Therefore, helping these people is our primary and important duty. Be sure that meetings with you and other people have been my most important source of strength. Feeling your love and support, I become more confident. It’s been great honour for me to have the support, love and trust of people. I want to assure you that I will justify your confidence. Thank you very much.

A resident: May God grant sound health to You and our President.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Thank you very much and I’m conveying the President’s greetings to you. Insha’Allah, we would meet in Garabagh, in such nice apartments.

A resident: Insha’Allah.

Gifts were presented on behalf of the First Vice-president to Shamsiyya Mehdiyeva’s family.

Mehriban Aliyeva became closely acquainted with the conditions existing in other apartments too.

1026 IDP families have been provided with apartments in the residential complex.