Today, October 15, is one of the proud and significant days for our people, written in golden letters in our history. On that day in 2003, the people of Azerbaijan unanimously elected Mr. Ilham Aliyev as the political successor and worthy follower of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, ensuring the transition of our country into a new phase of rapid and comprehensive development, and confident progress towards the peak of victory. During the past period, Azerbaijan has achieved consistent historical successes in all areas, becoming a prestigious state on the global stage and the leader of the South Caucasus region. Most importantly, the sacred desire of our people was realized - Azerbaijan, which continually strengthens its army, ensured its territorial integrity.
In response to Armenia's next military aggression against our country on September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani Army, under the leadership of President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, achieved a magnificent historical victory in just 44 days, liberating our internationally recognized territories from nearly 30 years of Armenian occupation.
As the head of our state noted, “Azerbaijani people will keep this Victory in their hearts for centuries.” In the centuries-old history of Azerbaijan, there has never been such a bright and absolute Victory." Three years after our historical victory in the 44-day War, on September 20, 2023, successful military operations resulted in 23 hours of localized anti-terror measures, putting an end to the separatist-terrorist junta regime in Khankendi. On October 15, 2023, the raising of the State Flag of Azerbaijan by the President, Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev in our ancient lands of Khankendi, Khojavand, Khojaly, and Aghdara, as well as in the settlement of Asgaran, marked the restoration of our sovereignty throughout the country.
After raising the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Khankendi, President Ilham Aliyev stated: “Exactly 20 years ago, the Azerbaijani people placed great trust in me by electing me as President in the presidential elections. At that time, I promised my native people that I will defend the national interests of the Azerbaijani people and state, and I will protect Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. I swore on the Constitution and the Quran. I am glad that over the past 20 years, all the promises I made and the tasks I set for myself have been fulfilled.”
President Ilham Aliyev also ensured the sustainable social development of our country. In his speech at the inauguration ceremony in the Milli Majlis on February 14 this year, President Ilham Aliyev noted that the work done in the social sphere is also obvious: “In 2003, our minimum salary - perhaps many do not remember - was 9 manats. Now it is 345 manats. Of course, this is still not enough, but there is progress, and this progress will continue. The minimum pension was 20 manats in 2003. Today, it had reached 280 manats. The average monthly pension is over 500 manats. The average monthly salary is 940 manats. Of course, I must reiterate that, this cannot satisfy us. However, there is dynamism, there is development, and most importantly, there are great prospects.”
It should be noted that especially in the last five years, by the instructions of the head of state, 4 social reform packages covering over 4 million citizens had been implemented. An additional annual budget of 7 billion manats had been allocated for these reforms. As a result, the minimum pension increased by 2.5 times, the average monthly pension by 2.4 times, social benefits and pension payments by 5 times, the minimum salary by 2.7 times, the average monthly salary by nearly 2 times, the salary fund by 2.8 times, and 10 new types of social payments had been established. The number of employment contracts had increased by over 500,000 or more than 40%.
On May 9, 2019, with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, the DOST Agency and the first DOST center were opened under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population. The DOST concept, initiated by First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, is one of the significant social achievements that allows for 160 social services to the population from a unified platform, a “single window,” transparent and operative, based on the principle of citizen satisfaction and convenience. Additionally, the widespread electronicization of state social services, as one of the important social successes of recent years, was ensured. More than 90% or 145 of the 160 services offered by the Ministry were digitalized. Over 50 proactive services, E-social portal, and the “Labor and Employment” subsystems were created.
By the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, significant steps are being taken to strengthen the social protection of families of martyrs and individuals disabled in the war. Over the last five years, social payments to the mentioned categories had increased by an average of 2.5 to 3 times. The program of provision of them with apartments and houses had expanded fivefold during the post-war period. During that period, over 6,200 apartments and houses had been provided to citizens in these categories, with more than 15,000 in total in the recent years. Additionally, in the post-war period, over 528 vehicles had been given to individuals disabled in the war, and over 7,700 vehicles in total had been provided during this time, and measures in these areas will continue in the upcoming period.
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