A book devoted to Mehriban Aliyeva by Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov is presented
A new book devoted to First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva is published. Written by Executive Director of the Foundation Anar Alakbarov, the book talks about Mehriban Aliyeva’s activities in the country’s public and political life, describing the qualities inherent in the First Lady in the context of individual cases.
Entitled “Mehriban”, the book describes the First Lady’s love for the Homeland and people, her attitude to various issues, being guided by peoples’ interest in every matter, as well as the works she has done supporting the Azerbaijani President’s policy.
Some sections of the book are presented to readers.
She is not only the First Lady, but also dear for all Mehriban
“To write and talk about Mehriban khanum is a great responsibility. About the first lady who has won prestige in all spheres of the country’s public life have been written various books, published articles both within the country and beyond its boundaries, describing in details her activities. These publications that primarily cite official information do not form comprehensive idea of Mehriban khanum’s character and inner world. Therefore, considering that most part of my professional activity has been closely linked with her name, I wanted to write about Mehriban khanum, who has become the symbol of charity in the country, and to disclose her inner world, having supplemented her perfect portrait formed in the public conscience with new features. Over the years, I witnessed the caring relation of Mehriban khanum towards people, attention to appeals and needs of citizens, protection of children deprived of parental care, and, in one word, I saw how generous her heart was. Thanks to her deeds, Mehriban khanum has won love and respect of people. Due to this love, she is not only the First Lady of the country, but also dear for all Mehriban”.
Due to her activity, the First Lady of Azerbaijan is known all over the world, moreover, she is very beautiful
“As a rule, the first lady of any state pays attention to science, culture and education in her country. But not a single sphere remains beyond Mehriban khanum’s attention, and she uses all her knowledge and ability for realization of various humanitarian initiatives. Today we can confidently say that the institute of first lady, which has been formed recent years in Azerbaijan, may become a model for many countries of the world.”
Accompanying the President of the country during his various visits, the First Lady attracts special attention of the mass media. I had repeatedly witnessed everyone recognise her in foreign countries regardless of age, even children. In September 2007, within the framework of the business visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Romania, inauguration of the Representative Office of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in this country took place. Participation of the presidents and their spouses in the event had been planned. Having, for any case, approached young Romanian girls who, as provided by protocol, were to present bouquets of flowers to the First Ladies, I explained them which of them will present flowers to the First Lady of Azerbaijan, which to the First Lady of Romania, and asked them if they knew Mehriban khanum. Smiling, both sincerely and simultaneously said: “We do not know by sight the first lady of our country. The first lady of Azerbaijan is known all over the world due to her activity, moreover, she is very beautiful”. These words made unforgettable impression on me.”
Mehriban Aliyeva never takes a decision without having analysed the smallest details
“She has sharp power of observation. At meetings and events, nothing is left beyond her attention. Mehriban khanum may remember in details any event she had observed years earlier. Moreover, she approches everything pragmatically, analyses thoroughly, and can take right decisions. Mehriban Aliyeva never takes a decision without having analysed the smallest details”.
She leaves nobody without a hope
“Mehriban Aliyeva won peoples’ love with her simplicity and sincerity, obvious evidence of which is her warm conversation with people coming to see her during visits of the Head of the State to regions, and her attention to every person appealing to her, and even to an elderly person standing aside.
While being acquainted with a secondary-boarding school in the city of Shamakhy during the visit to Shamakhy in April 2005, IDP families, approaching Mehriban khanum, asked to pay a visit to the hostel they lived in. Of course, this unexpected proposal had not been included in the programme of the visit and not accepted by the security service in terms of safety, and I was insistently asked to hand over Mehriban khanum their request not to accept the proposal. As a person who knew her character well, I expressed my confidence that Mehriban khanum would not remain indifferent to people who appealed to her, and, quite the contrary, she would listen and try to solve problems of everyone who hopes to get her help. Found in a desperate situation, representatives of the security service, having broken rules of protocol, came up to Mehriban khanum and advised her to visit only those facilities that had been provided by the protocol. Smiling, Mehriban khanum, surrounded by internally displaced people, talking with them, headed for the hostel. Mehriban khanum’s visit made people who had been impatiently waiting for her infinitely happy, from children to the elderly. She listened to all attentively and said the problems they faced would be considered and resolved as far as possible. And the following meeting held by Mehriban khanum in 2006 in Shamakhy made internally displaced people very happy – the old building of the former boarding school’s hostel, which had been given to young families of internally displaced people who lived in grave conditions was basically reconstructed and provided with necessary equipment.”
Compassion is one of the distinguished peculiarities of her character
“I have repeatedly been a witness of what sorrow Mehriban khanum experienced after a meeting with kids at children’s homes. While visiting children’s homes and boarding schools, she pays attention to every petty detail, surely checking the kitchen, inquiring about children’s nourishment, and gets acquainted with all conditions. Thanks to Mehriban khanum, children deprived of parental care and being brought up at children’s homes are today being taken care, and a family environment has been created for them in a true sense of word.”
New phase in the women’s movement in Azerbaijan.
“Mehriban khanum, having revived with her activity the women’s movement in Azerbaijan, opened a new phase in it’s history. Relying on national interests, the multilateral activity of Mehriban Aliyeva creates a clear idea of the position and role of a modern Azerbaijani woman in the society. Such traits for an Azerbaijani woman as high humanism and care have found bright embodiment in her personality.”
Decisiveness and ability to rightly plan the business will solve all problems
“Firstly we could not decide on an appropriate place for holding meetings with the public in the Khazar district, from where Mehriban khanum is elected an MP. There was not even a culture centre with normal conditions, and we had to hold our meetings in assembly halls of old school buildings. It was then when upon the instruction of Mehriban khanum, with a view to consistent and timely solving existing problems in the district, the Azizbeyov District Development Fund (now Khazar Development Fund) was established. Today, the Khazar District has got absolutely new apprearance. Peoples’ most pressing issues have been resolved. New roads have been built, parks laid out, education, healthcare and cultural establishments commissioned. With her activity, Mehriban khanum proved that there, where there is decisiveness and ability to rightly plan the business, no issue may remain unsolved.
…The year 2005. A meeting with the Khazar district community is held. At the meeting, an old woman come up to Mehriban khanum and invited her to a tea party at her home. Mehriban khanum promised her she would definitely pay a visit to her next time. In a few months, in February 2006, at the end of an event in the Khazar district, Mehriban khanum did not forget to visit 80-year old Badam-nene in her home. Enjoying her fellow-villager’s respect, Badam-nene, who had long years worked as a secretary of the settlement council and then director of the kindergarten, met Mehriban khanum with the feeling of infinite joy. She expressed the most sincere wishes to Mehriban khanum, who kept her promise. Mehriban khanum inquired about her health condition, how Badam-nene and her family lived, handed over her gifts and gave instructions on repairing her apartment and providing it with necessary equipment.
…Human qualities of Mehriban khanum, who is perceived by public conscience as personification of compassion, loyalty to family values are also the result of the fact that she is a daughter of eminent scholar, laureate of a State prize, doctor of physico-mathematical sciences, academician Arif Pashayev, and first doctor of science, first woman-professor for Arabic literature in Azerbaijan Aida Imanguliyeva, the daughter-in-law of national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and doctor of medical sciences, academician Zarifa Aliyeva. Always advocating the people’s interest, Mehriban khanum has done a lot for Azerbaijan.”
Let us note that in the book “Mehriban”, along with interesting moments associated with the First Lady of the country, have been given also statements of her family members – well-known public and political personalities.
