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August 26, 2014

Azerbaijan’s First Lady has done a great deal of work both for her country and other countries

On August 26, Mehriban Aliyeva, the spouse of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, celebrates her 50th birthday. Looking at this elegant and young woman, it is hard to believe that she marks her fiftieth anniversary, and is a grandmother of three! She has been leading the Heydar Aliyev Foundation since its establishment. In May this year, the 10th anniversary of the Foundation was celebrated. During these years, not only Azerbaijan, but also Russia and other states have benefited from the Foundation’s support.

 

Besides being the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva is the first woman in the world to be conferred on high state awards. Being the head of the Foundation, Azerbaijani President’s spouse has done a great deal of work both for her own country and other countries. For example, on August 21, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded an Honorary Diploma signed by Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahd Al-Salim Al-Sabah, the chairperson of the State of Kuwait Committee for Woman Affairs. This is the first award given on behalf of Kuwaiti women to a foreign public and political person, moreover, to a foreign woman. It is stated in the Diploma: “Kuwaiti women thank UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for “Broad promotion of the Islamic cultural heritage throughout the world, her noble charitable activity in Azerbaijan and beyond the country’s borders, and the great support she has provided to education and healthcare”.

 

On August 11, Russian governor Alexander Jilkin too thanked Mehriban Aliyeva and rewarded her with the order “For Services to Astrakhan Region”. It is stated in the order: ”This award is a high form of encouraging citizens for special contribution to Astrakhan Region’s economic, social and cultural development, and charitable activity”.

 

Actually, led by Mehriban Aliyeva, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been implementing a series of large-scale social projects in Astrakhan. Recently a kindergarten and  a school building have been reconstructed, Azerbaijan-Russia friendship bridge built, a monument erected to Saint Prince Vladimir and “Mechta” entertainment park laid out for children. At the moment, a new kindergarten is being constructed following the Foundation’s initiative.

 

“Moskovskiy Komsomolets” was told, at the administration of the Astrakhan Region’s governor, that parents whose children study at Secondary School No.11 named after Heydar Aliyev  are very satisfied. Schoolchildren are invited to Azerbaijan and sent for a holiday to this country. The youth very much love the Russia-Azerbaijan Friendship Park, and now the beloved hang the “fidelity key” on this Friendship Bridge. Construction of the kindergarten goes on, and its inauguration is expected soon. We all know that shortage of kindergartens is a problem in Russia, and the Astrakhan Region is very happy to receive such a present from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.”

 

Azerbaijan’s First Lady is also a bearer of the Order of Légion d'Honneur. Most prestigious state award of the Republic of France initiated over two centuries ago, this order was personally presented by French President Nicolas Sarkozy during his visit to Azerbaijan. This is the first time that a representative of Azerbaijan, moreover a woman, is accepted to the membership of bearers of this order, initiated by Napoleon. In general, there are few women conferred on the Order of Légion d'Honneur in the two hundred-year history of the Order. According to the tradition, fixed to a bright-red ribbon, this asterisk is conferred on people being pride of their homeland for their heroic acts or distinguished services, their talents and bravery. Therefore, mainly French men – military men, scholars, physicians and art persons are conferred on this order.

 

We Russians take special pride in hearing from the First Lady herself that there is much respect for great Russian literature, culture and history. Daughter of the First Lady and Vice-president of the Foundation Leyla Aliyeva always underscores while in Russia that  the teaching of Russian in Azerbaijani schools has been maintained in full volume, and the Russian Drama Theatre, the Russian Culture Centre, the Baku Slavic University and a branch of the Lomonosov Moscow State University are functioning in Baku.

 

Under its charming president’s leadership, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been supporting our capital in terms of material support to social projects, e.g. the Moscow Medical Support to Children Scientific and Practical Centre, where children with born or acquired diseases receive complex rehabilitation treatment, and a number of children homes in the capital. Head of Moscow Specialized Children Home No.43 in Moscow Galina Birk thanked the Heydar Aliyev Foundation on behalf of the whole team and children being educated in there, and wished the Foundation’s head to do more benevolent works in future.

 

We sincerely congratulate Mehriban khanum on her anniversary and wish her new successes in her benevolent activity!

 

Janna Golubitskaya

  

http://www.mk.ru/social/2014/08/24/pervoy-ledi-azerbaydzhana-50.html