Irina Bokova: Mehriban Aliyeva has attracted international community`s attention to problems of preschool children

Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova praised the active position of Azerbaijani First Lady, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO Mehriban Aliyeva and Azerbaijan in the press conference at the Moscow International Trade Centre following the official opening ceremony of UNESCO’s 1st World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education.

In response to an AzerTAg correspondent`s question “Does Azerbaijani First Lady, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO Mehriban Aliyeva`s participation at the Conference show that Azerbaijan is very active partner to UNESCO and how do You assess cooperation with Azerbaijan?”, Bokova said: “I`m very pleased that Mrs Aliyeva accepted our invitation to attend the Conference. Mrs Aliyeva is a goodwill ambassador since 2006, and I praise very much what she has done in this capacity to attract the international community`s attention towards problems of preschool children. We attach a special emphasis on the role of our goodwill ambassadors. And the role of Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva is of particular importance because she mobilizes not only the interest, but also the political will in her work.”

The UNESCO Director General also touched upon her recent visit to Azerbaijan, highly valuing her meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. “During the meetings in Baku I saw not only Azerbaijan`s striving and desire for the cooperation with UNESCO, but also how much importance the country places to the issue. I respect these aspirations, and praise Azerbaijan`s active position, and the country`s striving for the cooperation and interest towards the Conference.”

Irina Bokova talked of the objectives of the Moscow Conference, answered questions from mass media.