Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 15 / Trend, M. Aliyev, T. Hajiyev /
The Azerbaijani people ensured the irreversibility of state independence by choosing national leader Heydar Aliyev's course, deputy chairman and executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Ali Ahmadov said at the round table dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence on Saturday.
He said that there was a dilemma for Azerbaijan either to choose chaos or national leader Heydar Aliyev's course 20 years ago, after the independence was declared. People more believed in Heydar Aliyev's course. So, they chose this way.
"The Azerbaijani people achieved everything that independence could give one nation for 20 years," he said.
He said that the Azerbaijani state budget was $1-2 million during the first years of independence.
Today, Azerbaijan's state budget approaches $ 20 million. Marking the 10th anniversary of state independence, people spoke about the stability achieved during the years of independence. But today we talk about Azerbaijan's strong economy and its positions in the world.
"Independence is the opportunity presented to each nation for self-expression," he said.
"Using the independence, the Azerbaijani people were able to show themselves at the highest level. The Azerbaijani authorities are using natural resources for people's welfare and development of the country."
Ensuring the irreversibility of the independence is the biggest achievement of the Azerbaijani people, Vice-Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Bahar Muradova said.
"This is the achievement of every Azerbaijani citizen," she said.
Muradova said that the ruling New Azerbaijan party has a special role in achieving this development.
"I am proud to be a member of the ruling party," she said. "I participate in the process of state establishment."
The Constitutional Act of Independence was adopted in a hard period, Deputy Speaker said.
She added that after it was adopted, the Azerbaijani people faced a hard period.
She said that these hard times ended only after Heydar Aliyev returned to power. He returned on the Azerbaijani people's insistence.
"Today, Azerbaijan adequately conveys its reality to the world," Muradova said.
MP Eldar Ibrahimov spoke about the merits of national leader Heydar Aliyev when Azerbaijan gained independence.
MPs Fatah Heydarov, Vahid Ahmadov, Ilyas Ismailov, Fazil Mustafa, Gudrat Hasanguliyev also spoke about Azerbaijan's success for 20 years.