The pre-election speech in the accelerated mode

A 57-year-old Aliyev, who will go to early presidential elections on April 11, has done everything in the last year and a half to bring this date closer. The lightning referendum-2016 on changes in the constitution, the adoption of road maps of reforms, the shuttle multimode combinations in relations with the powers, testify to the reviving the process spurred by the economic crisis.

His speech before the congress in a certain sense can be regarded as pre-election speech. It does not differ much from his speeches in the past years and this is most likely due to his commitment to the line of succession, where for him the historical past is of no small importance. The president defined his rule as a worthy justification for the continuation of Heydar Aliyev's policy, which he considers salutary for the country.

In this succession, I.Aliyev pays great attention to stability and independent politics, which he counts since 1993 - with the coming his father to power. "Stability is the basis of all development," he said, noting that in the conditions of regional crises and wars he managed to protect the country from these trends and this policy will be a priority in the future. In his opinion, this foundation will create conditions for the continuation of reforms that have intensified in the last two years, which he considers irreversible. The novelty in his speech at the congress can be called two factors, which usually did not find reflection in his previous numerous speeches: at the center of the next political stage will be attention to the human factor, as well as parallel economic and political reforms.

In the field of foreign policy, there remains a commitment to multi-vector policy, which includes further integration in the European and Islamic directions on the basis of a multicultural ideology embracing spheres of religion, morality, and interethnic relations.

In the issue of the Karabakh conflict, which is an important element of the election campaigns, the line on unconditional settlement of the issue within the framework of territorial integrity remains a priority, and not discussed.

"Our position is a priority and especially in the current conditions," he said, hinting at the importance of Azerbaijan's role in international regional political and economic projects.

Within the framework of the priority projects of the future seven-year period Aliyev slightly mentioned: the development of public services, the fight against corruption, bribery, the establishment of justice, and the growth of the pace of development.

Based on the experience of similar performances of the past it is difficult to say how realistic the stated goals and tasks will be. However, the crisis socio-economic situation and the adoption of various kinds of projects over the past year (the elements of which partially become a reality) indicate that we should expect changes, even if they are modest.