December 15, 2007

A wax figure of national leader Heydar Aliyev was made at London's famous Madame Tussauds

Wax statue-figure of national leader of Azeri people Heydar Aliyev set at World Leaders Hall of Madame Tussauds Museum in London took on December 15 its honorary place among figures of outstanding statesmen and politicians of various countries and eras. The Museum does not include figure of leader of any CIS country, except Russia.

 

Addressing the solemn ceremony on this occasion Azeri Ambassador to Great Britain Fakhraddin Gurbanov said Heydar Aliyev founded political and ideological cornerstone of modern democratic Azerbaijan. Granddaughter of the national leader Arzu Aliyeva noted great politician Heydar Aliyev was at the same time modest and kind person much loving his natives and relatives and highly evaluating family values.

 

Former British ambassador to Azerbaijan Roger Thomas said talks held with Heydar Aliyev were sometimes hard but good always. President of Yunkom Theater Culture Center Farid Hagverdiyev underlined this event will promote popularization of Azerbaijan in Great Britain and other countries.

 

Making of wax statue-figure of Heydar Aliyev started a year ago on initiative of Madame Tussauds Museum. Members of the great leader’s family and Heydar Aliyev Foundation rendered big support to the British experts in this.

 

Author of the wax figure, employee of the Museum Steve Sways (author of figures of Elizabeth II and Fidel Castro) said: ‘Beginning the work on the statue-figure I went to Baku to get detailed information on this person. I visited Heydar Aliyev Foundation, studied lots of archive materials, saw thousands of photos. I met with people knowing him personally’. He said he tried to disclose different features of character of Heydar Aliyev, describe him as President and an ordinary man as well. Making of the figure took half a year. Statue-figure of the national leader has been made in his full height. He is in smoking, white shirt and bow-tie. A slight smile on his face Heydar Aliyev confidently looks at the distance. He has a watch in his arm he used to wear.  

 

A group of Azerbaijani MPs paying a visit to Great Britain, Turkish Ambassador to this country Mehmet Albugan were present in the ceremony.

 

This famous museum in London created in 1835 in base of collection of wax figures by Marie Tussauds from France is one of the wonderful sites in British capital. Tens of millions of visitors yearly come to the Museum and its offices in Washington, New York, Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Shanghai.