First Lady receives Astrakhan Oblast Order of Merit
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijani First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has been presented with Astrakhan Oblast Order of Merit at a meeting with Astrakhan Governor Alexander Zhilkin in Baku.
Aliyeva stressed the fruitful cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Astrakhan Oblast. She said the foundation has accomplished a number of large projects in Astrakhan.
"These projects included inauguration of school No 11 after national leader Heydar Aliyev, a kindergarten, a friendship bridge, a children's entertainment complex and a statue of Prince Vladimir," Aliyeva said.
The president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation expressed confidence that the cooperation would be expanded in future.
Aliyeva also hailed Azerbaijani-Russian relations, saying the two countries are bound together by strong ties of friendship. "Apart from politics and economy, big attention is paid to expanding bilateral relations in the fields of culture and education."
The first lady thanked Alexander Zhilkin for assisting the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in executing projects in Astrakhan.
Zhilkin, in turn, praised the foundation's projects in Astrakhan, "the people of Astrakhan welcome all these projects with great enthusiasm."
He hailed the activities of the Azerbaijani Diaspora, which illustrates friendly relations of two countries.
The governor noted the importance of launching a direct flight between Azerbaijan and Astrakhan, and said the people of Astrakhan desire to visit Azerbaijan as tourists.
Preparations for the first European Games were also discussed, and Zhilkin said many Astrakhan residents will visit Baku to watch the games.
They also discussed Azerbaijan-Astrakhan cooperation in fishing industry, particularly the execution of a joint biodiversity project with IDEA campaign headed by Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva.
During his Baku visit, Zhilkin was also received by President Ilham Aliyev. At a meeting, the sides noted that bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have been developing successfully on all fronts, and expressed their satisfaction with the expansion of Azerbaijan's cooperation with the federal subjects of Russia, including Astrakhan Region.
Starting its activity since 2004, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been actively participating in building a new society and contributing to the social and economic development of Azerbaijan, by implementing various projects in spheres such as education, public health, culture, sports, science and technology, environment, and social and other spheres.
The major mission of the Foundation is also to support socio-economic and humanitarian development within the country and abroad.