Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova, AzerNews Staff Writer

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has many projects that unite Azerbaijan and Russia as the two countries are bound by many years of friendship and good neighborliness, the Foundation's Vice-President Leyla Aliyeva said last Wednesday during a visit to the Russian southern city of Astrakhan.

Aliyeva visited Astrakhan to open Azerbaijan-Russia Bridge of Friendship and to participate in the groundbreaking of a monument to Prince Vladimir, as well as in a number of official functions.

Aliyeva noted that 2012 is the fifth year of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's representation in neighboring Russia.

"One of the first representations of the Foundation was established in Russia," she said. "During this time, the Foundation has implemented many projects. We are pleased that in Astrakhan the Foundation is implementing many projects. Azerbaijan and Russia have many years of friendship and good neighborliness. It is due to these projects that the friendship will strengthen," Aliyeva said during a meeting with Astrakhan Region Governor Alexander Zhilkin.

Governor Zhilkin stressed that Astrakhan is home to quite a large Azerbaijani diaspora, and it is one of the most active in the region. "It is very nice to note that Azerbaijanis are involved in many areas, including leading positions."

During their Astrakhan visit, Azerbaijani officials and MPs, as well as the Astrakhan region administration and city residents including representatives of the Azerbaijani community attended a number of events.

Bridge of Friendship

The Azerbaijan-Russia Bridge of Friendship, which embodies good-neighborly relations between the two countries, was constructed and inaugurated in Astrakhan with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The decision to build the bridge was made in 2010 during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Astrakhan.

In May 2011, as part of the first Russian-Azerbaijani inter-regional forum "Russia-Azerbaijan: towards new horizons of inter-regional cooperation", the groundbreaking of the Friendship Bridge took place.

Prior to the opening ceremony, participants laid flowers at the monument to Azerbaijan's late national leader, former President Heydar Aliyev in the center of Astrakhan.

Aliyeva delivered a speech at the bridge's inauguration. She thanked the event organizers for warm reception in Astrakhan.

"I am delighted to be here today for the first time and have the opportunity to see the projects that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation is implementing in the Russian Federation," Aliyeva said.

She added that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which was established in 2004 in honor of national leader Heydar Aliyev, is involved in all of these major projects and covers virtually all areas of life.

"The Heydar Aliyev Foundation also shows great respect to the world culture and history. The Foundation has restored monuments, historic buildings and museums worldwide. The Foundation built schools in Pakistan after the earthquake, as well as in Russia, Georgia, Holland, Romania and Egypt," Aliyeva said.

She highlighted further that Azerbaijan has always greatly respected the rich Russian culture and the great Russian language.

"Our country has fully preserved the Russian language teaching at schools, and there are the Baku Slavic University, the Russian Drama Theatre, the Russian Cultural Centre, a branch of the Lomonosov Moscow State University in Azerbaijan. I am sure that relations between our countries will develop and strengthen in the future."

Aliyeva noted that one of the important areas of activity of the Foundation is environmental protection. This being said, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation a year ago launched a new international movement, IDEA.

Astrakhan Governor Zhilkin in his speech stated that with the support of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, friendship among nations that have been historically living on the shores of the Caspian Sea is strengthening.

"We have to appreciate this, and I think the next generation will also appreciate it, and there will always be peace and harmony on the shores of the Caspian Sea -- in Azerbaijan, [all of] Russia, and in the Astrakhan region," Zhilkin said.

The pedestrian Bridge of Friendship connects the Heydar Aliyev Park with the boulevard, where a monument to Peter the Great stands. Symbols of Baku and Astrakhan, the Maiden Tower and the Astrakhan Kremlin are in ornaments of railing.

The bridge is 50 meters long and 6 meters wide. The bridge will considerably facilitate the passage of residents from one Volga river coast to the other. The bridge has become a real gift to the residents of Astrakhan.

Then the opening ceremony participants attended the opening of the "Dream" children's entertainment playground, which was built in the Heydar Aliyev Park.

The total area of the playground, which was also built with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, is about 1,200 square meters. The playground has seven large and several small amusement rides and fully ensures children's safety. A children's cafe is under construction there as well.

St. Prince Vladimir's monument

The groundbreaking ceremony of the Prince Vladimir monument, located in front of the Saint Prince Vladimir Cathedral, was also held during the visit.

The decision to erect the monument was made by the President of Azerbaijan. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation will support the construction work.

Zhilkin thanked President Aliyev for the proposal to set up "a landmark monument of Slavic Orthodox culture" and noted that the monument will be a symbol of unbreakable eternal friendship between the Azerbaijani and Russian peoples.

Expressing gratitude to Leyla Aliyeva and the Azerbaijani government, Zhilkin delivered a letter to the Azerbaijani president citing a proposal of Astrakhan to build in Azerbaijan a square or park, setting there a symbol of friendship between the Astrakhan region and Azerbaijan.

Deputy head of the Russian Presidential Administration Department for Interregional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Sergey Chebotarev, noted that the Prince Vladimir monument will be built in Azerbaijan. Chebotarev is impressed by the fact that Azerbaijan is financing the project.

Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Social and Political Affairs Department head, Ali Hasanov, said at the ceremony that the activities of the Azerbaijani delegation in Astrakhan are important for deepening Azerbaijan's cooperation with the Astrakhan region and the strengthening of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia in general.

Hasanov said that as it was already noted at the opening ceremony of the bridge, strengthening of peace and security, the promotion of humanism and charity, inter-ethnic and inter-faith dialogue are the priorities of the Foundation and its President Mehriban Aliyeva.

"There is no doubt that the project on the construction of the monument to Prince Vladimir will be completed in a short time and at a high level," Hasanov said.

At a press briefing held after the grounbreaking, Governor Zhilkin listed humanitarian aid projects which the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has implemented in Astrakhan in recent years, including the school and park named after Heydar Aliyev, the friendship bridge and children's playground.

"This is a real embodiment of the postulates which are incorporated in the agreements between Russia and Azerbaijan," the governor said.

Azeri youth group in Astrakhan

Leyla Aliyeva, the chairwoman of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia (AYOR), held a meeting with members of the AYOR Astrakhan branch at a school named after Heydar Aliyev.

First, the AYOR chairwoman viewed the school, which was overhauled at the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and with the support of the Azerbaijani government. After the reconstruction two new buildings were built in the school, new furniture was provided, and advanced equipment was installed in classrooms.

Aliyeva viewed the classrooms and familiarized herself with the conditions provided for students. It was noted that 650 students attend the school, including 32 Azerbaijanis. The school has 20 classrooms and 42 teachers work there.

Speaking at the meeting, Aliyeva noted that the Astrakhan branch of AYOR is one of the most active regional departments. She stressed that AYOR has implemented many projects in Astrakhan, including educational ones.

"AYOR has existed for almost five years. Our objective is to unite Azerbaijani youths living in Russia. AYOR has over 60 regional offices," Aliyeva said.

The AYOR chairwoman said that the regional offices of AYOR mark national holidays of Azerbaijan, promote Azerbaijan's fair position in its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, and convey the realities of the country.

"We believe that the conflict will be fairly resolved soon, and all refugees and displaced persons [ousted from their homes during the 1990s war] will return to their native lands," Aliyeva said.

The chairman of the regional office of AYOR in Astrakhan, Elvin Huseynov, said at the meeting that the office has more than 350 members who are closely involved in the region's social and political life.

According to the results of 2010 and 2011, the Astrakhan regional administration gave the highest assessment to the regional office of AYOR among the city's youth organizations, Huseynov said.

Leyla Aliyeva gets award

A solemn ceremony of awarding Leyla Aliyeva "For Services to the Astrakhan region" medal was held in Astrakhan State Philharmonic on Wednesday.

Governor Zhilkin said at the ceremony that Astrakhan and Azerbaijan are united by the Caspian Sea and a common goal is to preserve "the nature that surrounds us all".

"Historically, Astrakhan residents have always warmly treated Azerbaijani people. Therefore, the current dynamics of the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia is gratifying. The evidence for it is the events held today -- the opening of Friendship Bridge, children's playground, and groundbreaking of the monument to St. Prince Vladimir," the governor said.

Leyla Aliyeva expressed her gratitude for the high award.

"Astrakhan is a beautiful city, but I liked the people here most of all, because it is impossible not to feel your warmth. We will have a lot of projects ahead," the Foundation VP said.

After the awards ceremony, a concert was held with the participation of Russian and Azerbaijani artists. One of them was Azerbaijani People's Artist Polad Bulbuloglu, whose performance was met with great ovations.