Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was awarded the Jubilee Medal of the International Fund for Cooperation and Partnership of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

The news was announced at the organization's meeting to celebrate its fifth anniversary in Istanbul.

President Aliyev was honored for supporting the idea of establishing the Fund and "his tremendous contributions" to its activities.

Speaking to the event, Turkish Deputy Minister for EU Affairs Alaattin Buyukkaya said the Fund attached particular importance to cooperation with the European Union.

President of the International Fund for Cooperation and Partnership of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea Ismail Safi provided an insight into the activities of the Fund.

Highlighting Azerbaijan's activities, he thanked President Aliyev for backing the initiative to establish the organization five years ago and making an outstanding contribution to its work.

The Fund, an international non-governmental non-profit organization, was established in March 2009 at the initiative of distinguished intellectuals, scientific and public figures, diplomats, and representatives of influential non-governmental organizations from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The representatives of another twelve countries joined BSCSIF in 2011-2013.

BSCSIF represents a civil society initiative for launching common actions and strengthening peace, dialogue, harmony, and cooperation between the countries of the wider Black Sea - Caspian Sea region in enhancing democratic process, consolidation of civil society, economic development, environment, science, education, innovative technology, cultural diversity, tolerance, and dialogue among civilizations.