Enlightenment may not be massive. A scientist, a poet, a composer, an artist, a writer, an actor - all these are unique people with innate talent.
Heydar Aliyev
The ceremony of awarding the Diploma Honorary Professor of the I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
A ceremony of awarding First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva the title of Honorary Professor of the Sechenov First State Moscow Medical University, a world-renown university of the Russian Federation, was held in Moscow, April 13.
After presenting an honorary professor’s gown, a badge and a diploma, First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva delivered a speech at the ceremony.
Speech by Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva:
- Dear Peter Vitalyevich!
Esteemed Teachers and Professors!
Dear Friends and Colleagues!
First of all, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the management and professional and teaching staff of the Sechenov First State Moscow Medical University, as well as its scientific society and personally you, mister rector, for awarding me the title of Honorary Professor of the University.
I’m very glad to be within the walls of my native university. I think I can call it, as before, “my university”. This education institute is associated not only with my student years and my first steps towards the profession of a physician, but also with my memories of youth and very interesting years while I lived in Moscow. In these years, totally new world of knowledge is discovered, future profession is defined and intellectual potential formed. Without a doubt, much has changed at the university during the last years. Even the name of the university has changed, new study rooms, lecture rooms, laboratories, teaching aids and state-of-the-art education methods created. But I’m completely confident that the high spirit of education, which is the basis of an education institute, has been preserved. I’m sure, as it used to be before, exactingness, kindness, scientific influence, tradition, democracy and fundamentalism have been coexisting here.
There is a very nice expression in Russian – “my universities”. This expression is not only a notion of professional training. It has a broader meaning. This is first of all a life school and definition of life principles and moral values. I’m indeed very proud of spending my student years within the walls of the Sechenov First State Moscow Medical University. I’ve mastered theoretical and practical knowledge here. The profession of physician is a special profession. This is a profession of spirit and soul. This is a science of sharing grief and mercy. This is a profession of sympathizing with people and giving a hand to those in need. This is altruism. Actually I’ve not been practicing my profession for long. However, in every sphere of my activity, especially as the president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, I’ve been trying to rely just on these principles and this basis.
Dear Friends, today I’d like to talk a few words about our country and headed by me Heydar Aliyev Foundation. As an independent state, we are too young. Last year we marked the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s regain of its state independence. But Azerbaijan is a country with rich and old history. You know that geographically our country is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, on the Great Silk Road. For centuries various civilizations and cultures have been formed on the territory of our country and mixed together. Of course, all these have had an influence on formation of qualities of our people such as tolerance, patience and hospitality.
Today people of different nationalities and religions are peacefully living together on the territory of Azerbaijan. If we look at the contemporary, the newest history of our country, I can assuredly say that we have made great achievements. Today Azerbaijan is a leading country of the region. By an economic growth rate, our country has for a few years occupied a leading position in the world. 80 percent of the Southern Caucasus countries’ total economy falls in Azerbaijan’s share. And all large economic projects are implemented on the initiative and with participation of our country. Over 3 thousand schools have been constructed and restored, over 900 thousand new jobs created, poverty level decreased from 49 percent down to 8 for the last 10 years. Moreover, a socially-oriented policy is being pursued in Azerbaijan. As I had noted before, schools are repaired, new kindergartens and school buildings constructed. 400 new medical objects have been built in Azerbaijan for the last 10 years. These are large medical centres, clinics, treatment and diagnostics centres, hospitals, policlinics and outpatients’ clinics. 300 of them have been built in the regions. I would like to note that by the number of medical objects and quality of medical equipment our country is in a leading position in the post-soviet space. Recent years the life expectancy rose from 71 to 73. We could manage to significantly reduce child mortality. Natural growth was 13.5 percent, which is the highest index in Europe. Today much attention is being shown towards protection of mother and children. New prenatal centres are created in the country. Clinical child hospitals are equipped anew. As a result of this, we have been witnessing reduction in child mortality. Much attention is being shown in the country towards prophylaxis of infectious diseases. Although during the first years of independence Azerbaijan used to be considered as one of the unpleasant places from this point of view, immunization of children under 6 is 97 percents today. As a result of this, infectious diseases have almost been eradicated, or they come across in very rare cases.
40 Olympic Sports Complexes have been built in our country. Of course, in addition to supporting the sport movement, this is of great importance also in terms of youth health. And our country is indeed too young. If to look at the statistics, 66 percent of the country’s population is under 35, and 33 percent between 14 and 29. Without a doubt, this is of great significance, because the young generation is not only a part of the society today, but they also are the future of our country. The future of our country is dependent on their physical, moral and spiritual soundness.
As I had already mentioned, the progress going on in our country may actually be seen in all spheres. The most important is that the progress is seen not only in the capital, but also in regions. A special program is underway in the country aimed at developing the regions. And this helps in balancing the difference between the capital and other cities of the country.
Today Azerbaijan is already a well-known centre for dialogue between cultures and civilizations. Each year large international conferences and forums dedicated to these subjects are held in our capital. In 2010, the First Russian-Azerbaijani Humanitarian Forum was successfully held first time in Baku. This event then turned into a humanitarian forum. In addition, other conferences and forums devoted to that pressing issue are held. We all know that we are living in a difficult world. Therefore, development of humanitarian relations and relations in the sphere of science and education is important, as this facilitates peoples’ mutual understanding and knowing each other.
Dear friends. Headed by me Heydar Aliyev Foundation was founded in 2004. Since the very first days of establishment of the Foundation, we defined the main directions of our activity. These are projects associated with education, public health, assistance to young generation, protection of the environment, promotion of Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage, as well as dialogue of cultures and civilizations. We are proud to have built 200 schools in the country with support from the Foundation within the “New schools to new Azerbaijan” project. These schools have been basically constructed in the regions and far-located villages. Later this initiative was supported by the state too. Over 3 thousands schools have been built and restored for the last 7 years.
Public health has always been in the focus of attention of our Foundation. We have implemented a considerable amount of projects in this sphere. Among them may be cited projects aimed at helping children suffering from various cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac insufficiency, and those with impaired musculoskeletal system.
The Thalassemia Centre has been created in Baku within the Foundation’s “Life without Thalassemia” Project. This centre is the only medical institution in the region equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, which allows transplantation of bone marrow. We provide each year children under 14 suffering from diabetes with necessary medicines free of charge within the “Assistance to children suffering from diabetes” project. In addition, we organize various events and recreation zones to ensure that they spend their leisure efficiently.
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, first in the region and along with the UN Development Program, has been providing assistance to children and adults with impaired vision in studying information and communication technologies. A modern centre has been created in Baku and state–of-the-art computer systems installed here for people of this category. From this year on, construction of such centres started in the regions too.
Last year our Foundation provided material support to Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation in “Prophylaxis of infectious diseases in pregnant women and those born with hepatitis B” Program.
In joint cooperation with Russia’s NIKOIL Company, we have built the Origami Centre in our capital. This centre has been supplied with up-to-date medical equipment. State-of-the-art technology is being used for its activity and education of children.
I should note that our Foundation has been providing much support to people with various medical problems and pathologies both within the country, and also abroad – to arrange their treatment in CIS countries, Europe and US.
Activity of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the sphere of public health has been highly appreciated by a number of international organizations. We have been closely cooperating with the World Health Organization, UNESCO and United Nations. We have received much appreciation from these organizations. There is a special program, which we adopted first. Based on this program, all children homes and boarding schools in the territory of Azerbaijan have been fundamentally repaired. Today we can say that there is no problem in the territory of Azerbaijan associated with material and technical basis of institutions of this type. In addition to its activity within the country, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation carries out also projects abroad. We have provided a support to people that have suffered from natural disasters in Pakistan and Haiti. With support from the Foundation, a school building was constructed for girls that suffered from the earthquake in Muzaffarabad of Pakistan. We have provided a support to people that have suffered from floods in Romania. We have implemented a number of projects in cooperation with Russia, our partners here, in the first place, together with Russia’s Azerbaijani Youth Organization. Projects such as “Oncological diseases have no nationality”, “Be sure you are healthy” and “Youth against AIDS and drug addiction” may be cited as an example.
Dear Friends, I cited a number of projects. Each of these projects is connected with concrete destinies, concrete people, sometime rescued lives. This, of course, is an important aspect of our organization’s activity. During the time span of eight years, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has implemented considerable amount of projects. Now I basically talked of the projects we implemented in the sphere of public health and education. We have also been paying much attention to protection of cultural heritage. Restoration and reconstruction of historical and religious monuments are being carried out in the country. Moreover, we have been providing much support to youth. There are projects and programs aimed at protecting the environment.
I could talk more about the Foundation’s activity, as it has multilateral activity. I just wanted you to have certain idea about the Foundation’s activity.
As to the today’s event, I would like to thank you once more for your hospitality and rewarding me with the title of Honorary Professor. I see here my colleagues. I have not seen you long. I’m very glad to see you here today. In addition, I would like to say this day is an important day for me, as I am within the walls of my native university, among my colleagues.
Today I was awarded the “Stars of the Commonwealth” Prize of the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Foundation of the CIS countries. Therefore I’m having a double holiday. The “Stars of the Commonwealth” Prize has also a material part. While I’m here, I would like to make my contribution to the scientific basis of my native university. The material part of the Prize, which is two million roubles, I’ll transfer to the bank account of the Sechenov First State Moscow Medical University. I’m sure a scientific research is being carried out here, and this would be my little contribution.
In addition, I would like to say, as the rector has already mentioned, that the university has already been cooperating with our Foundation. I would like to once more note that our Foundation is open to any kind of joint activity. We welcome joint projects, including joint projects with Russia, with which we have friendly relations and have common past and history. In this sense, I’m ready to any kind of cooperation.
At the end I would like to one more thank you and invite you to Azerbaijan. One can talk and hear much. I think you better see everything with your own eyes. Welcome to Azerbaijan.