September 15, 2006

A group of participants of I International Russian Book Festival visits Heydar Aliyev Foundation

A big group of participants of I International Russian Book Festival visited Heydar Aliyev Foundation, September 15.

The visitors were informed the Foundation started to operate on May 10, 2004 - the birthday of national leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. Major goals of the Foundation established as respect in memory of the national leader of Azerbaijani people are to study and propagate rich political legacy of famous political figure Heydar Aliyev, create an obvious idea in foreign visitors and future generations on his large-scale activity towards socio-economic and cultural progress of Azerbaijan, support international projects started by the genius person, help the works implemented in field of wide propaganda of Azeri culture and history.

 

Questions of guests on photos taken from the archive of the great leader reflecting separate eras of his activity were replied. They were familiarized with numerous documents reflecting the very various moments of genius person`s life and creating a wide idea of the entire history of Azerbaijan, gifts presented to him by the popular political figures all over the world, photos taken with leaders of different countries, books on great leader, ideas of outstanding figures of science, culture and art on the national leader, saw with big interest photos taken with leaders of different countries. They were impressed by pictures on multilateral activity of the great leader while working as one of heads of USSR government in Moscow. They also saw the photos taken with popular figures of science, culture and art of the world.

 

Then, visitors viewed a documentary on activity of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, projects implemented by him, his international links.

 

The meeting with festival participants was continued at the tea table. President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva congratulated the visitors on I International Russian Book Festival held in Azerbaijan in frame of the Year of Russia and said: realization of first such festival in Baku is quite purposeful. You probably know there has always been respect in Azerbaijan towards Russian literature, art, culture. But in certain eras of our history, when our countries got independence, we felt `cultural lack` because of known reasons. Even today we feel double need for necessity of cultural dialog, relationship, familiarization with culture of neighbors and friends.

 

In this point we have a number of traditions and they are continued and developed.

 

Azerbaijan is the only state in post soviet arena where no Russian-language school was shutdown after becoming independence and all these schools function. Azerbaijan and Baku people have always loved and respected Russian culture, a part of the universal culture. Baku Slav University operates in the capital of the country.

 

Talking of the activities of the Foundation led by her Mrs Aliyeva said: the Foundation was opened in May 2004, on the birthday of national leader Heydar Aliyev. Activities of the Foundation cover many spheres including priorities such as humanitarian programs - education, healthcare and social issues, assistance to the poorest sections of population, refugees and IDPs that are nearly a million in Azerbaijan.

 

Special attention is paid to the education. Very big projects are implemented, new schools construction project started 2 years ago. 260 new schools were built from 2004 till now due to support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Majority of them are located in mountainous districts. This program is continued and more 500 schools will be constructed in coming years.

 

Events held by the Foundation receive big support in the country.

 

President of the Foundation, expressing confidence for high-level realization of the festival, said there is very big interest in the festival, a number of residents of the capital applied for helping them in partaking in the events of the festival.

 

Prominent writers, public figures Chingiz Aytmatov, Oljas Suleymenov, Tatyana Ustinova, head of Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency Mikhail Seslavinsky, president of `Russian Club` International Cultural-Educational Union Nikolay Sventitsky, director general of ITAR-TASS Vitaly Ignatenko and others addressed the meeting, valued the festival as very important event in lives of both states. They noted it is not only the literary event in humanitarian relations, but also another proof that our nations are in right, independent and very beautiful path.

 

Visitors mentioned they witnessed the love and attention in Azerbaijan towards soviet and contemporary Russian literature, classic Russian literature, were impressed by sincere meetings and talks with the capital residents during the events.

 

Many events were held in the first day of the festival. On September 16 participants will visit 3 districts, meet with their readers.

 

Talking of activity of Heydar Aliyev Foundation the visitors highly valued the role of Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva. They underlined there are many foundations worldwide. But Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s distinctive feature is that it covers different directions of activity - culture and history, education and healthcare, a number of other humanitarian spheres.

 

President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation noted the plan of this organization includes creation of a wide net of the bookshops in the country.

 

Culture and tourism minister Abulfaz Garayev told the visitors President Ilham Aliyev pays big attention to figures of art.

 

Then, the participants of the meeting were presented souvenirs of the Foundation.

 

The Foundation was presented on behalf of the festival participants the publications, historical photos of outstanding political figure Heydar Aliyev.

 

After the meeting, the visitors were familiarized with books, albums, audio and video outputs of Heydar Aliyev Foundation.