President: Azerbaijan working with highly experienced global firms to counter cyber threats

President Ilham Aliyev has said that Azerbaijan is working with international companies that have vast experience in cybersecurity to ensure maximum protection of the country against such threats.

“Now, cyber attacks are widespread across the world. This year, Azerbaijan has also been subjected to such attacks," Aliyev said, addressing the conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) on November 3, Caliber.Az reports per Azertag.

“We are working on very extensive programs with international partners — companies that have vast experience in this field — to ensure maximum protection and defense against these threats,” President Aliyev noted.

Touching on the transformative role of technology, the head of state highlighted the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern development. “Artificial intelligence. Ten years ago, no one even talked about it; there wasn’t even such a term. Today, it is an inseparable part of countries’ future development,” President Aliyev stated.

“The development of artificial intelligence in Azerbaijan, as well as its application in daily life, the economy, and technological progress, is now a reality,” he added, stressing that “we expect the active participation of Azerbaijani scientists in this field.”

President Aliyev also underscored the importance of studying and documenting the history of the modern Azerbaijani state. “There is a great need for substantial scholarly works on the history of the independent Azerbaijani state as a whole,” he said.

“For more than 30 years now, we have been living as an independent state, and in the centuries-long statehood history of the Azerbaijani people, Azerbaijan has never been as strong as it is today. Therefore, there is a need for many works that study and promote the history of independent Azerbaijan,” the head of state emphasized.

On scientific progress, the President noted that “funding allocated to science in Azerbaijan has increased more than twofold over the last ten years.”

“During my presidency, attention to the development of Azerbaijani science has been consistently aligned with the policy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Numerous steps have been taken,” he added.

Praising the contribution of ANAS, President Aliyev expressed confidence in its future role: “I am confident that the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and Azerbaijani scientists will continue to contribute to the successful development of our country. The Academy has come a long way over 80 years and has played a leading role in the development of science in Azerbaijan.”

Addressing the issue of national unity, the head of state reaffirmed that “Azerbaijanis have never fallen victim to the disease of separatism.”

“Our people have contributed to the statehood of the countries they live in, and today, in no country do Azerbaijanis create or will create problems for any state or any other people. Therefore, the return of Azerbaijanis to present-day Armenia should not frighten the Armenian people and state,” President Aliyev added.

The President also drew attention to ongoing economic and industrial initiatives in the liberated territories. “On my instructions, large-scale geological work has been underway in Karabakh and East Zangezur for several months,” he said, inviting Azerbaijani scientists to take part in the process. “I am also giving instructions to state structures. I believe that in the next few months, we will receive very good news.”

Touching on Azerbaijan’s economic performance, President Aliyev stated: “Our economic indicators are very positive. Of course, GDP is not increasing much. The main reason for this is the objective decline in oil production.”

He emphasized that “today the main driving force of Azerbaijan’s economy is the non-oil sector,” which “constitutes the majority of our overall economy.”

Highlighting defense industry achievements, the head of state said: “In the near future, many Azerbaijani companies will likely produce military-grade products of world-class quality.”

“At the same time, state-level efforts are underway in this direction. We are significantly expanding our military capabilities through local production and largely meeting our own needs. We already export military products to many countries,” he added.

Concluding his remarks, President Aliyev referred to the upcoming anniversary of the 2020 victory in the Second Karabakh War. “In a few days, we will celebrate the fifth anniversary of our glorious Victory. Over the past five years, wars, clashes, and conflicts have occurred in many places around the world, and everything is measured by comparison. Scientists know this well,” he said.

“I can say that no second country has achieved a Victory as brilliant, complete, and absolute as ours,” the President emphasized.

By Khagan Isayev