President Aliyev meets Prince Albert II
By Nazrin Gadimova
Prince Albert II of Monaco visited Azerbaijan for two days to get familiar with the country and preparations for the upcoming 2015 European Games.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met Prince Albert II of Monaco on February 18. The two sides discussed ways of developing bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Monaco.
Prince Albert II said this was his first visit to Azerbaijan and recalled his meeting with Ilham Aliyev as a good event during his visit.
He also referred to the hosting of European Games in 2015 by Azerbaijan expressing confidence the tournament will be successfully organized.
President Aliyev, in turn, said the visit of the Prince of Monaco is a good opportunity for him to get familiar with Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's president said the preparations for the 2015 European Games are going on successfully despite shortage of time.
On the same day, Azerbaijan's First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva met with the prince of Monaco.
Prior to the meeting, Prince Albert II, Mehriban Aliyeva, and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva toured the Heydar Aliyev Centre.
Prince Albert II was informed that the centre, which is a cultural complex designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, houses a conference hall with three auditoriums, a library and a museum. It was said that the project is intended to play an integral role in the intellectual life of the city, as well as to engage in studying and promoting the statehood policy and heritage of national leader Heydar Aliyev.
The prince also paid a visit to the exhibition "Fly to Baku. Contemporary Art from Azerbaijan", which is underway in the center.
Then the First Lady and the Prince of Monaco had a meeting during which discussed preparatory work for the Baku 2015 First European Games, holding joint concerts, as well as arrangements for the Princess Grace Exhibition at the Heydar Aliyev Centre.
The sides also exchanged views over what the Heydar Aliyev Foundation had done in the fields of culture and education.
For his part, Albert II said he was aware of the annual Mstislav Rostropovich music festival in Baku.
Then, Prince Albert II was awarded the "Baku" and "Monaco" works by Azerbaijani renowned artist Altai Sadikhzade.
The Prince also visited the Baku Crystal Hall, where he watched a presentation about the European Games in 2015, to be held in Baku.
Prince Albert II viewed stands reflecting facilities considered as place for hosting of the first European Games, to be held in Baku on 2015.
It was reported that the grandiose event will bring together over 5,400 athletes from 49 countries, and that three main venue - "The Village", "The City", and State Flag Square are planned to host the Games.
The "Athletes Village" -already under construction - is considered one of the best facilities for elite athletes. Moreover, the construction process of the 65-seat Olympic Stadium and the National Gymnastics Arena is going to finish soon.
It was noted that Baku Sports Hall, Republic's Stadium named after Tofig Bahramov, Sports and Concert Complex named after Heydar Aliyev and Azadlig Square are considered to host Games in "The City" part, while the Games on the State Flag Square will be held in Baku Aquatics Center, Swimming and Basketball Arenas, as well as Baku Crystal Hall will host sports even on volleyball, taekwondo, fencing, karate and boxing.
On the second day of his visit, Prince Albert II visited Azerbaijan's State Academy of Fine Arts, where he participated in an opening ceremony of the Azerbaijani Pomegranate exhibition, co-organized by the Azerbaijani Education Ministry, AZNAR Company, Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, as well as Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts and Union of Artists of Azerbaijan.
The exhibition includes works of students and young painters, as well as sculptors. Moreover, a dance group of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts performed at the event.
Prince Albert II of Monaco was presented a carpet made by teacher of the Academy Mammadhuseyn Huseynov.
After the opening ceremony, a closed meeting of the jury and awarding ceremony were held.
Prince Albert II then visited the "Baku White City" project, where he was informed that the urban development project is carried out under the Decree of President Aliyev on the approval of the "Plan of complex measures to improve the environmental situation in Azerbaijan in 2006-2010".
The prince of Monaco was told that the Baku White City is the largest ongoing project in the Caucasus, and its master plan envisages the creation of 10 universal urban districts with each of them to offer its residents the best living, working, recreation and entertainment conditions.
The, Prince Albert II also received "Azerbaijani carpets" book.
Prince of Monaco also visited the National Flag Square, where he was informed on two executive orders in 2007 on construction of the National Flag Square and declaring November 9 as the National Flag Day, and viewed the National Flag Museum established on the initiative of Azerbaijani President.
The museum features flags and emblems of states in Azerbaijan's history as well as khanates, Azerbaijan's previous constitutions, postal stamps, banknotes, orders, medals, flags, kissed at the inauguration ceremonies by national leader Heydar Aliyev and President Aliyev, as well as flag of Supreme Commander-in-Chief and ceremonial costumes.
The museum also showcases a Guinness World Records certificate for the tallest flagpole, books, photographs and flag hung in the embassy of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in Turkey in 1918-1920.
Prince Albert II of Monaco signed museum's guests book, and was awarded a keepsake.