Azerbaijani president, first lady visit industrial city
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva on Monday visited Sumgayit, an industrial city located 30 km north of the capital Baku.
President Aliyev and his spouse started their trip by laying flowers at the monument to late national leader, former President Heydar Aliyev.
The Azerbaijani leader was informed of the efforts made to boost social and economic development of Sumgayit.
The president and the first lady attended the opening of an apartment building for the people disabled during the armed conflict with Armenia in the early 1990s and the families of Karabakh war victims in the city. President Aliyev and his spouse viewed the apartments.
Minister of Labor and Social Protection Fizuli Alakbarov said the 12-storey building has 96 apartments.
Apartment buildings were also opened in two districts of Baku, as well as in Ganja, Shaki and Shamkir cities.
The president met residents of the new building and made a speech at the event.
Minister Alakbarov told the president that residents of the buildings in Zabrat and Hovsan districts of Baku as well as the three mentioned cities have the opportunity to address the opening ceremony in Sumgayit through video conferencing.
The president handed over apartment documents and keys to Nakhchivan-made NAZ Lifan cars to the disabled and members of war victim families.
Karabakh war handicapped and war victims' family members thanked the president face-to-face and through the videoconference.
During the visit, the president also viewed progress in reconstruction and landscaping work at the Nasimi culture and recreation park in Sumgayit.
The president was informed that the park covers a total area of 100 hectares, and the reconstruction work started there in May 2011. President Aliyev stressed the importance of carrying out the work in line with high standards.