August 24, 2005

Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura visited Heydar Aliyev Foundation

On 24 August, Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura has visited Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

 

The Foundation`s President, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva warmly greeted the esteemed guest.

 

UNESCO Director-General and members of delegation firstly familiarized with the expositions of Foundation.

 

UNESCO Director-General and members of delegation saw with interest the numerous photographs reflecting the very different features of phenomenon person Heydar Aliyev and creating a wide impression of entire period of Azerbaijan history, gifts presented to him by famous politicians of the world, books on great leader, his pictures taken with leaders of different countries, figures of science, art and culture.

 

After familiarization with the Foundation, Mr Koichiro Matsuura left records in the Honor Book.

 

Then, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva met with Mr Koichiro Matsuura and delegation members.

 

MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA once again greeted the guests and said:

 

I am very glad and feel deep pride of seeing each of you in our country. I want to express my special thanks to Mr Director General. This visit took place just due to his big interest and attention to Azerbaijan.

 

Firm cooperation has always existed between Azerbaijan and UNESCO and this cooperation has almost entered new stage lately, develops rapidly. I am sure this visit will further contribute to our cooperation.

 Dear friends, I want to give you brief information on Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Heydar Aliyev Foundation has started its activity on May 10, 2004. The major goal and duty of the Foundation is to propagate and deliver to future generations the philosophy and idea of Azerbaijanism. Since the first day of our activity we have set duties for ourselves meeting the demands of the time. We have implemented global projects. From the first day we have tried to help the solution of concrete problems of concrete people.

We have done very big works within a year in solution of social problems of the country. I would like to emphasize a few projects only. Very big projects are carried out in field of aid to children trained at children`s homes and boarding schools, diabetes-affected children, life without thalassemia, education. 132 schools will be built till the new school year within the biggest project in this field - `New school to renewing Azerbaijan`.

Priority direction of our functioning is to assist the weakest sections, needing the help, of our society. I believe after this meeting our foundation will implement a number of global projects with very prestigious international organization like UNESCO.

 

I regret that your visit to Azerbaijan will last 2 days only. It is too short. Azerbaijan is very beautiful, very interesting, possesses very ancient history and I would like so much you to see all these.

 

Azerbaijani people have very nice traditions, one of these and I think, the most beautiful, is hospitality. We are always glad to see guest, consider every guest native and close to us. I believe you will feel and see yourself this hospitality.

 

Once again welcome to Azerbaijan, I am glad to see you. I would be very glad to hear the words coming from heart of each of you and realize desire of each of you.

 

UNESCO Director General KOICHIRO MATSUURA expressed gratitude on behalf of himself and his spouse, delegation members for sincere meeting and warm words. Remembering his participation in the actions on the 1300th anniversary of `Kitabi-Dede Gorgud` epos in April 2000, meetings with national leader of Azerbaijan, he expressed delight of being familiarized with very interesting expositions of the Foundation, specially of seeing his photograph taken with great person Heydar Aliyev. Highly valuing the multilateral activity of President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva, he said he is sure that cooperation and mutual ties will further be developed and strengthened.

 

Detailed exchange of views was held in the meeting on many other issues.

Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva presented Mr Koichiro Matsuura miniature publication of his reports and speeches, book on activity of the Foundation and watch.

 

Mr Koichiro Matsuura presented President of the Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva medal of UNESCO, the book `Globalization and cultural heritage`.

 

Guests were taken picture for memory and left the Foundation under good impression.