Eldar Azizov: "Has oil ensured prosperity of the people of Iraq or Nigeria? The answer is, apparently, no"

- It is not necessary to introduce you to our readers. The active and determined head of the Ganja city is famous to everyone in Azerbaijan. The city has improved and changed significantly. What are your further plans? How do you see the future of the ancient capital of Azerbaijan?

- You know, there have been great, even revolutionary changes in Ganja through the past year. Only a world scale person, like Mr.Ilham Aliyev, could have conducted such changes through such a short period of time. Owing to his deep intellect and outstanding ability to define priorities, set tasks and control their execution, Ganja has made a great rush towards development. Mr.President holds his hand on the pulse of the city. His seven visits here through the past 5 years prove it.

By the way, the economic growth rates in Ganja have topped the overall republican indicator through the past half of the year. Thus, the GDP made up 16.5% throughout the country, while it was 30.5% on Ganja. This was just in the non-oil economic sector. It proves the success of the regional policy of the president. I think the president's policy will lead to the consolidation of the leadership in the region and Ganja will take the second place by the development level, outstripping the capitals of the neighbor states, though it may seem unreal to someone today.

Today we live in quite a different country. Positive changes covered all spheres of life. The exterior and living of people is changing. There are numerous countries, outstripping Azerbaijan by their oil reserves. Let's see how they live. Has oil ensured prosperity of the people of Iraq or Nigeria? The answer is, apparently, no.

Today, the interests of superstates clash in our geopolitically complex region. In these conditions Azerbaijan manages to conduct its independent external policy. Others calculate losses but we calculate the apparent achievements. This is a historical gift that in such a complicated period the Azerbaijani state was led by Heydar Aliyev and Ilham Aliyev. Very complex processes are ongoing now both in the region and throughout the world. In the situation when leaders of even world states are sometimes impatient and nervous, Ilham Aliyev remains calm and persistently continues the course for development of the country. It is now possible to say that Azerbaijan is the only independent state in the South Caucasus.

- Which problem bothers the Ganja mayor most of all?

- I am not a mayor but a chief of executive power. But Ilham Aliyev's policy is of obvious popular nature. Therefore, we strive for an active work with people. As is known, we hold meetings with the population, called the "open microphone" in Ganja. Microphones are set directly in the yards or at the squares, where the city leadership gathers for a meeting with the residents. I ask the people a question: "which problem bothers you most?" Frankly speaking, 4-5 years ago there was a wide criticism, sometimes with elements of aggression. Now people voice their gratitude, which features the spirits throughout the country.

Owing to the regional policy of the president and his special attitude towards Ganja, most problems have been settled through these years. The city is supplied with gas and electricity 24 hours a day, new jobs are opened and improvement works continue.

The only problem remaining is a problem of fresh water supply to the population. Today, only 15% population is supplied with pure water. The president has instructed to settle this problem as well. The presentation of the project on supply of fresh water to the city and reconstruction of the sewerage system has already been held. About EUR 70 mln was allocated for the purpose. The first group of German specialists has already initiated the work. This problem will be settled in the near future, as well.

- Do you communicate with the mayors of other cities of Azerbaijan or abroad? Do you exchange experience?

- Sometimes I communicate with the chiefs of executive powers of the cities and regions of Azerbaijan. You know, cities, like people, are too different, but at the same time there is much in common. Mr.President instructed the chiefs of executive powers to visit foreign cities, expand their outlook. It is important to assimilate others' experience, especially of developed cities with rich architecture and developed style. The development of our cities led to our assimilating something from each others. Thus, transiting any city, I see that something is taken from Ganja, I also take something from others. At the same time, everything should be conducted professionally. Each city should have its own image and architectural style. To modernize a city, preserving its style and traditions - that is what the head of state directs us to. By the way, we get the widest intellectual stimulus and generation of ideas from him. But this is a topic of a different talk.

- It seems that Ganja is under constant attention of the head of state. Is it difficult to work in such conditions and which features of his work style can you list?

- It is not easy to work under his leadership, as it is a highly educated and intellectual person. While communicating with him, you see that he is always in course of events, closely watching the processes both inside the country and beyond its bounds. Before presenting a report to Mr.President, I am seriously preparing, being aware that he will ask numerous questions and, as a rule, I have to ask for extra time to answer some of them. This proves his professionalism. He is always calm, logically consistent, exigent and, at the same time, democratic.

His views are a lucky combination of modern and national features, therefore, setting a task on modernization of a city, he always states the need to preserve the national traditions. Ilham Aliyev's style features the conceptuality in everything and ability to bring every business to its logical end. If he said something, I know from my experience that it would be implemented. We see it from the development of sport, oil sector and regions. We feel the president's serious charisma while communicating with people. People speak warmly about him and love him very much.

It is important when there is an ideal of a person or a family in the society. It plays an important role in raising up the young generation. Mr.President and the first lady have turned into an ideal for most. By following them, people lead the healthy lifestyle, learn languages, try to be always fit. It is important that Mrs. Aliyeva, combining the best features of the East and West, propagandizes actively the image of a modern Azerbaijani woman. She is followed and beloved. This unique woman is especially treated in Ganja. The restoration of the historical memory of the city is bound to her activity.

- Do you often visit Baku? Probably, when you come here, you notice the changes in the image of the capital city? Which positive and negative moments do you notice in these changes?

- The works, carried in Baku, reflect the refined taste of the President. Baku is becoming an elite city, which will further be able to rival any capital of the world. The large-scale construction affects the sanitary state, which is natural under such large volumes of construction works.

- What do you usually do after a tense workday?

- I do sports, read, I like to watch Discovery TV channel, watch the processes, ongoing in the world, try to be informed about the recent news in town-building, architecture and design.

- Do you have time for reading or watching films? What is the recent book you have read and the recent film you have watched?

- I do not often watch films. But I spend much time reading books and various literature after each working day. The recent book I have read was the book by Charles Landrey "A Creative City". Ganja, in a certain sense, is also a creative city. There are many intellectuals, who are constantly generating new ideas, in this book.

One of the recent films, I have watched, was "The destiny of a Monarch". A presentation and a discussion of this film was held in Ganja with participation of historians, intelligentsia representatives, as well as film creators. I am glad that our country has started to shoot such a historical films, which is also a result of development. As regards the said film, not everything is too objective in the sense of history. I have already stated it during discussions in the executive powers. The reason is that the film was created by the plot of a novel, written in the Soviet time, but not on the basis of historical facts. Anyway, the said movie is a serious step in the development of Azerbaijani cinema.

- As far as I know you have a son and a daughter. Please, tell us about them. What do they do at the moment? How do you see their future?

- During the receptions, they are cases when people come with a request to place their children in jobs. When I ask about the age of their children, in some cases, they answer-40 or 45. This is a tragedy of both parents and children. In such cases I say that even if this person finds a job, it will never have a sense. At this age, he should knock at doors himself to find a job and take care of his parents.

I always wanted my children to raise up as independent persons, loving their country. I always recommended them to read much, become educated with wide outlook and knowledge sector. Fortunately, they are like this. I am proud that they are modest, they can take responsibility for their actions and settle their problems independently. Both speak several foreign languages. I have never heard any complaints about them. Thanks God, I have heard only positive things. I hope the same will be in the future.

/Day.Az/