October 8, 2012

Leyla Aliyeva: “We have many identical features”

Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was interviewed by Russian “Rossiya-24” Channel.

Correspondent: Mrs. Aliyeva, thank you for  creating this opportunity to have a meeting with you here in Baku. We have been here for more than a day and observing sincerity, kindness and hospitality of Azerbaijanis, residents of Baku. Is it so only in relations with the Russian, or what is it associated with?

Leyla Aliyeva: Thank you very much. I’m very pleased to hear these nice words from you. Of course, we have been treating everybody this way, as Azerbaijanis are very hospitable  people. We are a hospitable nation, this is in our blood and soul. We welcome every guest. Azerbaijan has always been famous for its hospitality, and people relating to different nationalities, religions and cultures have for centuries lived here as a large family. Representatives of many nations are living today in Azerbaijan. One can encounter people talking different languages in the street. In addition to Muslim mosques, there is a Catholic church, an Orthodox church and a Jewish synagogue here, all people are living in peace and solidarity. To my mind, this is very important, in particular in a modern world. As regards Russia, we have historical and cultural links, we have many identical features. Learning the Russian language is still continuing in Azerbaijani schools in full volume, the Russian Drama Theatre, the Slavic University of Baku, the Russian Cultural Centre have been operating in Baku. We have a lot of identical features and we are always glad to see Russians here.

Correspondent: Thank you very much. Mrs. Aliyeva, you have been leading the Moscow Office of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. One of the objectives of the Foundation is cultural exchange and promotion of values existing in Azerbaijan. Can you attract tourists from Russia?

Leyla Aliyeva: As you know, the Russian Representation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was opened five years ago. One of the first representations of the Foundation was opened just in Russia. During this period, we have implemented a number of projects. We have been holding exchange of students on a permanent basis, and inviting each summer by 20-30 people from Russia to Azerbaijan and from Azerbaijan to Russia. We invite professors, teachers and pedagogues just to help them to get familiarized with our country. We have been holding regular cultural events and festivities. Recently we inaugurated the Centre of Azerbaijani Culture in Russia. During this period, we have held a number of events there. We have a lot of good projects. Recently, to be more precise, three weeks ago, the Azerbaijan-Russia Friendship Bridge in Astrakhan, as well a school built with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation were inaugurated.

Correspondent: Education is a priority issue in the activity of your Foundation. About one thousand students are studying abroad...

Leyla Aliyeva: Yes, this is a state program. As to the Foundation, it covers all spheres of life. But education is one of the significant areas, and about 400 schools have been built and reconstructed by the Foundation. Every school has its own computer room provided with state-of-the-art equipment. The Foundation prints teaching aids, sends schoolchildren to study. And these schools are built not only in Azerbaijan, but also in Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Georgia and Egypt too. It covers very extensive territory. Recently, we inaugurated a school in Astrakhan. We intend to continue the work in this direction further.

Correspondent: And what’s the Foundation’s interest in this business? But it is obvious that not only representatives of the Azerbaijani Diaspora will be taught in these schools...

Leyla Aliyeva: The Foundation was established in 2004. It was named after our national leader Heydar Aliyev and its primary objective is to continue the benevolent acts initiated by Heydar Aliyev. Therefore, we carry out our activity also in the public health sphere. The biggest in the region thalassemia centre was built in Azerbaijan by the Foundation.  All children under 14 suffering diabetes are provided free of charge vaccines. Centres for the disabled and boarding schools for children deprived of parental care are built. The Foundation’s activity is very extensive. Of course, cultural events are paid much attention. Last year we celebrated the 20^th  anniversary of regain by Azerbaijan of its state independence in various countries of the world, including Russia. In this connection, we have arranged exhibitions and concerts. This is a very extensive activity. The most important aspect of this activity is that during this period the Foundation could manage to gain support and trust of all strata of the population both in Azerbaijan and beyond its boundaries.

Correspondent: I’m confident you prefer to work with people of your age. I mean the Russian Azerbaijani Youth Organization. Why do you think there was a need to establish such an organization and what is its contribution today to the favourable condition created in relations between Azerbaijan and Russia?

Leyla Aliyeva: AYOR was established approximately 5 years ago. I could not have predicted that this organization would be so active and successful. AYOR’s abbreviation has been accepted as AMOR in Russian. This is means the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia and, if read it as a word, it means “love”. Actually, the love of people, ideas of love have facilitated unification of the Azerbaijani youth, their integration into the Russian society and proper promotion of the Azerbaijani culture in Russia.  Now, Azerbaijani youth clubs are operating almost in all universities. Other countries have followed our example and started to open their own youth clubs. They are representing their own countries and cultures. Young people have very close relations. We regularly invite 30-40 people from Russia to Azerbaijan. We are planning to hold AYOR’s forth conference on October 12. We have a lot of projects. We have regularly participated in an action called “Blood has no nationality”. First I thought we would need to attract our youth to this action, but it turned out that they showed initiative themselves. Yes, they go to children homes each month and help children and students. Recently our active physicians arranged lectures at universities about the harm caused by narcotics and tobacco, and a threat posed by AIDS. They go to various higher schools, give lectures and distribute books. In addition, they arrange festivities at children homes, help children. This is very important. Because the youth has much energy and they have to understand that they can do a lot.

Correspondent: You have also founded an international dialogue organization IDEA to hold actions on protection of the environment. What prompted you to create an environmental organization?

Leyla Aliyeva: It has been already one year since we started the IDEA project. Certainly, our primary objective is to protect the environment and  inform the youth of the peril our planet has faced. Because many people do not know this and do not think of it. One of the distinguished feature of IDEA is that we approach this issue creatively. In other words, we try to hold various competitions. Our last job on this project was making gazelle mock-ups. Because gazelles are facing the peril of extinction. Various artists from around the world painted pictures of gazelles on the mock-ups, whereby called the attention of the public to the issue of protection of environment and animals. To my mind, this is very important. Recently, while I was in Astrakhan, we had a discussion about holding competitions among schoolchildren on protection of cuckoo. Recently we started a photo-competition called “The Earth through the lens of children”. Some 2 thousand pupils form various countries of the world participated in that competition.

Correspondent: If I understood you well, in addition to protecting the environment, you have created a means for the mutual integration of the Azerbaijani and Russian youth.

Leyla Aliyeva: Of course, culture and art can play this role. We try to approach every job creatively. All types of art - photos, paintings, poems - have been involved in this action. And this will create conditions to discover our youth’s talents.

Correspondent: As we know, in addition to being engaged in issues related to the environment, music and education, you are publishing a magazine as well. In general, does the word “impossible” exist for you?

Leyla Aliyeva: No. To my mind, there is nothing impossible. If somebody says I “can not do” anything,  he says he does not want to do the job. I want to say if anyone wanted to do any job heartily, he believed what he wanted, he would do a lot. What does really matter is that the job you did was useful. Having seen the positive results of this job, its benefits, we want to do more.

Correspondent: Mrs. Aliyeva, you are a young, determined and very beautiful Eastern woman.   But all these events take a lot of time. In addition, you have children. They also need attention. How do you find time for all these?

Leyla Aliyeva: Exactly, I have two children. They will soon be 4 years old. Of course, my children and my family are the most important for me. I want to be able to give my children what my parents gave me. I want them always to be surrounded with care and love. This is the most important. I’m travelling all around the world. But I take my children with me. Therefore I don’t miss them. As to the time, to find time is not a problem as long you have sound health.

Correspondent: Unfortunately airtime is limited. I would like to thank you for such an interesting talk. As you say in Azerbaijan, “Chokh sagh olun”.

Leyla Aliyeva: Thank you too..