July 22, 2005

Presentation ceremony of 'Azerbaijan' internet portal created by Heydar Aliyev Foundation was held

Presentation ceremony of  'Azerbaijan' Internet portal, new project of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, was held at Azerbaijan State Philharmonic, July 22. 

People in the hall warmly welcomed President Ilham Aliyev. 

Ceremony was opened by Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. 

Then video was shown on 'Azerbaijan' Internet portal (www.azerbaijan.az). Successful continuation of wide-scale works, done by our nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev to popularize Azerbaijan in the world, achieve development of country, create ground for progress by building legal and democratic state, by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, successes gained in national independence period in different spheres of science, culture were shown in the video. The video reflected once again the importance of this great project created in the basis of important desire such as distribution of Azerbaijani realities to the world through Internet, popularization all over the world of material and moral values our people have created for thousands of years. Comprehensive information provided on each of the portal's sections 'News', 'General Information', 'Nature', 'History', 'Economics', 'Culture', 'Society', 'State Power', 'Azerbaijan in international scene', 'Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict', 'Territorial and administrative units' and 'Maps' was welcomed with satisfaction. Inclusion of numerous images, documents along with comprehensive scientific information regarding the subject in every section further lifts the value and influence of the materials. The portal has no analogue in the Republic for the volume, richness and coverage of the materials, as well for the used Internet technologies. Showing once again the possibilities of modern information technologies, 'Azerbaijan' portal will give its worthy contribution to popularization of our country in international world, creation of full, true and detailed impression on Azerbaijan in the world. 

Then President of Azerbaijan National Sciences Academy Mahmud Kerimov was given the floor. 

Speech of president of Azerbaijan National Sciences Academy Mahmud Kerimov:

- Dear Mr. President,

Dear Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva,

Dear friends!

It is very nice to be with you today at very eminent event. We are gathered to the presentation ceremony of 'Azerbaijan' portal, which has big importance in cultural and public life of our republic, modern society.

It can be said with quite certainty that 'Azerbaijan' portal, made by Heydar Aliyev Foundation, meeting the needs of the time, fairly reflecting important public-political, historical, scientific and cultural events in life of our people, is one of the essential attributes of our state, parameter of level of its development. 

Greatest desire of nationwide leader of our people Heydar Aliyev was to create independent Azerbaijan, develop it and popularize in the world. Opening of this portal is one of the most important steps taken towards realization of ideas of nationwide leader. 

Due to regular and purposeful policy started by Heydar Aliyev and continued at the moment by dear Ilham Aliyev, President of the republic, new structure - civil society and at the same time information society is being created in our country. New generation, growing in this circumstance, is being formed. 

Coverage of the reforms carried out in economy, social changes, innovations in science and culture and a number of other issues through the modern information technologies has become inevitable necessity of present day. All these are very significant factors in preparation of 'Azerbaijan' portal.

Integration of Azerbaijan to the modern world union by skillfully benefiting its ancient history, light intellects, grandiose culture and art successes, natural resources, geopolitical position, intellectual potential - all these have been reflected in 'Azerbaijan' portal. This portal is indeed an electron encyclopedia about Azerbaijan, visiting card of Azerbaijan Republic. For comprehensiveness of the information, the portal can even be compared with Azerbaijan National Encyclopedia. But preference of the portal is that differed from the encyclopedia, it can always be updated and improved. 

Very rich and comprehensive database of the portal will surely open wide possibilities for the users, become new information resource for them. This portal may be advantageous for not ordinary readers only, even for scientific workers. Because the portal's materials refer to scientific and official sources.

Presentation of the materials in three languages gives chance to the people all over the world to get close familiarization with Azerbaijan's realities. At the same time the portal will be changed to a unique means for popularization of our country and people in the world. 

Design of the portal, its search system, simplicity for use should be emphasized and are appreciable. 

Creation of this portal was a work requiring big labor, intellect, knowledge, skill and most of all citizen patriotism.

 

I have to mention with pride that scientists and experts of National Sciences Academy played big role in preparation of 'Azerbaijan' portal. 

At the end of my speech, I would like to congratulate all the Internet users, our community on the creation of 'Azerbaijan' portal and express my gratitude to employees of Heydar Aliyev Foundation that have labor in preparation of the portal, to its creative staff. I express my deep gratitude to Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, an author of the idea of the project and head of the work, who gave special contributions to this honorary and responsible work. 

Dear Mrs. Aliyeva, I cordially congratulate You on the opening of 'Azerbaijan' portal and wish You new successes in Your charitable activity. 

Later the floor was given to Communication and Information Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov. 

Speech of Communication and Information Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov :

- Dear Mr. President!

Ladies and gentlemen! 

Today we are participants of an eminent event in electron arena of Azerbaijan. Electron gateway of Azerbaijan Republic is opened not only to citizens of our country as well to the Internet users all over the world. Opening of 'Azerbaijan' portal is a new and simulative step in direction of building the information society in our republic. This system will have important place in delivery of Azerbaijani truth to the close and remote points of the world, propaganda of our national-moral values, enlightenment of our people, informing the wide range of people about its science and culture. The portal that possesses wide information diversity and is rich with information on social-economic potential, nature, territorial and administrative units and infrastructure of our country is electron directory for the foreigners wanting to deal with business in Azerbaijan. In a word, this electron information system will make Azerbaijan a transparent land both for Azerbaijanis and foreigners. 

The mankind lives today period of transition to information society and has already faced its hardest problem. This problem is 'information or electron difference'. A figure is enough to imagine the deepness of the problem. 90% of electron information resources collected all over the world is in hands of only 10% of population of the planet. Taking into consideration that information support plays important role at present time not only in social-economic development but also in democratization of society, human rights protection and assurance of freedom of speech, then it becomes clear that repeal of 'electron difference' is strategic target of the humanity among the countries and inside the country. 

Heads of states and governments of the world countries will partake on November 16-18 this year in 'World Information Society Summit' in Tunis under leadership of UN. First phase of the Summit was held in Geneva in December of 2003 and Azeri President Mr. Ilham Aliyev gave a speech there at the plenary sitting. Summit participants welcomed it with sympathy while dear President announced in his speech information-communication technologies as priority directions of social-economic and humanitarian policy of Azerbaijan Republic and sounded a thesis like change of 'black gold' in our country to 'human gold'. This declaration of President was confirmed by steps taken later for development of information-communication technologies and works implemented in Azerbaijan in this direction.

This year Azerbaijan goes to Tunis Summit as member of organization committee and sponsor of the action. Over the last two years Azerbaijan sponsored international forum on information-communication technologies, 33rd Assembly of communication ministers of regional countries, meeting of Informatization Coordination Council and 'Bakutel' International Exhibition. International exhibition will be held in Baku and seminar of International telecommunication alliance on rural communication in Nakhchivan till the summit. 

It should be noted with great pride that Azerbaijan is one of the leading countries among the initiators of the thesis like 'Role of information-communication technologies in democratization of society'. Documents such as 'Baku declaration', 'Bahrain declaration', 'Tehran declaration', 'Political declaration of Ministers Cabinet of Council of Europe' that will be submitted in the summit have been prepared with participation of Azerbaijan. 

Nearly 7000 Internet sites act now in Azerbaijan and these information resources contain information on different fields of our country. But there was not electron information collection fully reflecting our country as an entire live organism. No one, no organization was ordering purchase of domain 'Azerbaijan.az' - main electron title of our country. Such a responsibility was assumed by Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the first time. All we were anxious about this and were expecting with impatience purchase of main WEB portal. Result was more successful than we expected. First reactions are appreciable. 

Apparently from the title, the portal contains all the information on Azerbaijan in Azerbaijani, English and Russian languages. Detailed information is posted on the portal about official news, general information, nature, history, economics, culture, society, state power, Azerbaijan in international arena, Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict, territorial and administrative units and maps. And this is information support on Azerbaijan for foreign and local people. 

This portal has dynamically been prepared, news, weather forecast, exchange rates are updated. Information has been provided on all the state structures and their electron addresses are available. An ordinary user entering the portal will obtain information on all the spheres of our republic through only one address. 

Search system in the portal has also been taken into consideration and user may conduct the search for any keyword. 

Contacts have not been forgotten in the site. User is enabled to contact the creative staff. Structuring of the portal has perfectly been organized, its navigation has correct and high ergonomic features. 

Entry of 'Azerbaijan' portal in Internet arena and opening of information doors to the international world is a new contribution to the free information prestige of our country. Taking into consideration that it carries the name of Azerbaijan, status of the main portal of the country, and is created by Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which eternalizes the name of our nationwide leader, I hope 'Azerbaijan' portal will be welcomed with respect by both our Internet users and providers. I promise it will be cared about by Communication and Information Technologies Ministry and wish success to the head of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva and its staff. 

Thank you for attention. 

After an official part, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva were familiarized with the materials posted on 'Azerbaijan' portal on the computers placed in foyer of Philharmonic.

Then ceremony was continued in the summer yard of Philharmonic. President Ilham Aliyev made a speech here before the participants of the presentation ceremony. 

Speech of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev:

- Dear ladies and gentlemen!

We all are glad today for the show of 'Azerbaijan' portal. Very beautiful portal and very exact and detailed information is posted here on Azerbaijan. Information on Azerbaijan is available in Internet, on different sties, but it is the first time that all the information is contained in the portal. 

Enough information was given here today, video was shown. I am sure that people in any point of the world interested in Azerbaijan will effectively use the portal. Our realities, processes ongoing in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani truth must be delivered to world community in impartial manner as they are. All we know well that very strong Armenian lobby in the world acts against Azerbaijan. Almost information war is made against Azerbaijan and surely we should adequately respond this in very a worthy manner. Creation of 'Azerbaijan' portal will help us much in this work. We will deliver the information about Azerbaijan to the world union, at the same time we should organize our propaganda in more effective manner. 

This project, implemented on the initiative and under leadership of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, is very significant and I am sure that this portal will always be updated in future and will be in focus of attention. 

Activity of the Foundation is multilateral. Opening ceremony of Heydar Aliyev Foundation was held on May 10 last year, the Foundation commenced to act. In short time the Foundation implements very important works in different fields of our public life. Philanthropic activity of the Foundation is too wide. People living under hard conditions are helped, orphan children are always paid attention, great importance is attached to study of historical heritage of Heydar Aliyev. Works done in short time in different directions are very appreciable. Within this time the Foundation has become very important figure of our public life and I am sure that it will further work very effectively and continue its function in a worthy manner. 

Today I want to greet you once again. I wish success to each of you and desire all us to try to strengthen our Homeland and state with our labor, modernize Azerbaijan, make it wealthy and powerful state. I wish success to all of you in this work. 

Thank you!

Presentation ceremony ended with concert of figures of art.