Construction of Azerbaijan-Russia friendship park starts in Volgograd
By Aynur Jafarova
The groundbreaking ceremony of an Azerbaijan-Russia friendship park was held on June 5 in the Russian city of Volgograd. The solemn ceremony took place in the framework of the fourth Russia-Azerbaijan interregional dialogue-2013.
The interregional dialogue was held in Volgograd on June 5-6. The aim of the event was to review the state of economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian relations between the regions of Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as find ways of expanding the cooperation.
An Azerbaijani delegation headed by the Presidential Administration's head of social and political affairs Ali Hasanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, Azerbaijani Youth Union of Russia and officials of the Volgograd region attended the ceremony.
Opening the ceremony, chair of the government of the Volgograd region Oleg Kirsanov said that Baku Park in Volgograd, whose construction is being launched, will be a new pearl on the map of the historic city.
"We are putting a new stone to the foundation of our international cooperation... The capsule which we will place into the foundation of this park is the guarantee of the future of our countries," Kirsanov said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Department for International and Cultural Ties with Foreign Countries, Vladimir Chernov, said that the memorial capsule with a message to future generations will be a sign of the inviolable Russian-Azerbaijani friendship.
According to Chernov, the construction of such facilities is becoming a good trend. Chernov recalled that in 2012 a friendship bridge of Russia and Azerbaijan was inaugurated in the Russian Astrakhan city.
He expressed gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Azerbaijani diaspora in Volgograd and all those who realize such important initiatives.
Ali Hasanov, in turn, said that the foundation of Baku Park was being laid on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. An agreement on the construction of the park was reached in early April during a visit by an Azerbaijani delegation to Volgograd.
Hasanov expressed confidence that this park, symbolizing the friendship between the two nations, countries and cities, which have lived in peace and accord for centuries, will become one of the favorite places for Volgograd residents.
"It is gratifying that the laying of the park takes place on the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the German-fascist invaders by the Soviet troops in the Stalingrad battle," Hasanov said. "Azerbaijani soldiers, along with representatives of other nations, displayed heroism and courage at the battles, and gained this victory. We are proud that the names of the participants of the Stalingrad battle - two-time hero of the Soviet Union, Major-General Hazi Aslanov, hero of the Soviet Union, Major Khidir Mustafayev are written in the heroic chronicle of war with golden letters."
Hasanov went on to say that the Volgograd section of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress is closely involved in carrying out the reconstruction of the friendship park.
"A number of similar projects have been carried out in Astrakhan upon the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and with support of the head of the executive authority of the Narimanov district of Baku. Shortly the Astrakhan residents will inaugurate a friendship park in Baku as well," Hasanov said.
He also said that thanks to the policy pursued by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Russian-Azerbaijani relations are developing and expanding.
Amb. Bulbuloglu, in turn, said that today is a festive day not only for Azerbaijanis in Volgograd but also for all Azerbaijanis living and working in Russia. According to him, this park will symbolize the friendship between the Russian and Azerbaijani nations.
He said further that the park will be constructed over several months and inaugurated in September.
The central park of culture and leisure in Volgograd dates back to the 1960s but it has recently become dilapidated. Currently improvement work is underway in the territory of the park.