"I realize that the personnel should work on a rotation basis, and modern-minded people should be involved in public administration," he said in his message to the Head of State.

Today, the resignation was accepted by the President, who issued an Executive Order relieving the first Vice-Premier from his post. By his another Executive Order, President Ilham Aliyev awarded Abbas Abbasov the Order "Istiglal" (Independence) for his contributions to economic development of Azerbaijan.