Azernews.Az

BAKU - Two books devoted to Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva’s activity, translated into English and Arabic, were presented last Wednesday.

The books, titled "Benefactor of our culture and cultural heritage" and "The Azerbaijani culture - a message to future generations", have been released with the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s financial aid.

The publications cover the period 1995-2010 in the work of Aliyeva, who heads the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and acts as UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Mehriban Aliyeva was born on August 26, 1964 in Baku. Aliyeva is a qualified doctor, member of Azerbaijan’s parliament, chair of numerous charities and cultural organizations.

In 1988-1992, Aliyeva worked at the Moscow Scientific Research Institute for Eye Diseases led by Dr. Mikhail Krasnov. She established in 1995 and currently heads the Friends of Azerbaijani Culture Foundation. In 1996, she started Azerbaijan Heritage culture and history magazine published in Azeri, English and Russian and became its editor-in-chief.

In 2002, Aliyeva was elected the President of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation. Her hard work resulted in the International Gymnastics Federation's decision to hold the 2005 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Azerbaijan. In 2004, she established the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which focuses on studying and holding events to promote the political ideology of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s late national leader and former President. In 2004, Aliyeva became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Later that year, she was elected the executive member of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee. A survey held in Azerbaijan earned her the title of the Woman of the Year in 2005. She is also the first woman to become Knight of the Ruby Cross awarded to her by the Patrons of the Century International Charitable Fund for her philanthropic work.

In 2004, she became a member of the governing New Azerbaijan Party. During parliamentary elections in 2005, she was elected to the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani parliament).

Aliyeva was awarded the World Health Organization prize for her great contribution to the protection and strengthening of mother, child and family health upon the unanimous decision of the 120th session of WHO’s Executive Committee held in Geneva in January 2007.

Aliyeva was awarded the Golden Heart International Award for wide-scale charity undertakings and high achievements in the field of service to the higher ideals of mankind in Moscow in May 2007.

In August 2009 she was nominated to receive the award of Great Woman of the 21st century. She was also honored by the Niagara Festival with its highest award, the Golden Rose Peace Award, which is presented to a person who had undertaken such a glorious mission as providing convergence and integration among world cultures and civilizations.

In 2010, UNESCO's Director-General Irina Bokova awarded Aliyeva with the UNESCO Mozart Medal "for strengthening the intercultural dialogue".

On February 15, 2010 Aliyeva was awarded the Officer Class of the National Order of Legion of Honor by the decision of the French President for her outstanding contribution and loyalty to France.

Mehriban Aliyeva married Ilham Aliyev in 1983. They have two daughters, Leyla (born in 1986) and Arzu (born in 1989) and a son Heydar (born in 1997). Leyla is married to Emin Agalarov, the son of the Russia-based Azerbaijani tycoon Araz Agalarov, and has two sons, Ali and Mikayil.

This story is published by AzerNEWS Weekly under a project funded by the Foundation for State Assistance to the Development of the Media under the President of the Azerbaijan Republic.