Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has been conferred with Man of the Year award by local independent broadcaster ANS for his outstanding policymaking, economic achievements and other merits.
The award marks President Aliyev's contribution to the ground-breaking of the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Gars railway - a $600 million line to link Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey - despite pressure from numerous world powers, stepping up the country's role in global energy security by taking Azeri gas to European markets and pursuing a balanced policy amid rising tension between the United States and neighboring Iran. It also underscored the Azerbaijani leader's efforts in the succerssful implementation of infrastructure projects across the country, re-settlement of all refugees who had previously lived in make-shift townships, establishment of the defense industry complex in Azerbaijan, beefing up funds channeled into bringing the national army into compliance with up-to-date standards as well as the release of the jailed journalists.
The ceremony of conferring the award, established by the ANS broadcasting and media group of companies and the Chingiz Mustafayev Foundation, was held on Tuesday. The award was presented to the head of state by Fuad Mustafayev, the son of the late TV reporter, national hero Chingiz Mustafayev who fell in 1992 while on duty during the battles with Armenia over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
The president was traditionally handed a special diploma, an award of 5,000 manats ($5,950) from the foundation as well as an exclusive, hand-made Glashutte wrist watch on behalf of the ANS group.
The Man of the Year award has been awarded to prominent figures for several years. The recipients include the nationwide leader, former Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev, First Lady, Heydar Aliyev Foundation president and UNESCO goodwill ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva, as well as the Caucasus Clerical Office chairman, Sheikh Allahshukur Pashazada and former Japanese ambassador in Baku Toshiyuki Fujiwara.