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President Ilham Aliyev Participates in Ceremony Marking 87th Birthday of Heydar Aliyev and 6th Anniversary of Heydar Aliyev Foundation

10 May 2010 21:01 (UTC +04:00)

Baku - APA. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva have today attended a solemn ceremony at the Buta Palace to mark the 87th birthday anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev and 6th anniversary of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, APA reports quoting â€œAzerTAcâ€ news agency.
The meeting attended by state and government officials, foreign guests was addressed by President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO goodwill ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva who said Heydar Aliyev devoted whole his life to development of Azerbaijan.
According to her, Azerbaijan found its well-deserved place in the world community thanks to Heydar Aliyevâ€™s activity.
â€œAzerbaijanis are proud that they have such an unforgettable leader and hero as Heydar Aliyev,â€ said Mehriban Aliyeva.
She pointed out the Heydar Aliyev Foundation played an important role in developing education, health, culture in Azerbaijan and raising world communityâ€™s awareness about Azerbaijan.
The participants saw a video dedicated to the prominent statesman Heydar Aliyev.
Speaking at the event, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said Heydar Aliyev had served the people of Azerbaijan with dignity and dedication.
People of Azerbaijan, according to the President, loved and trusted Heydar Aliyev very much. The Great Leader was always sensitive to problems of the country. Thanks to Heydar Aliyevâ€™s activity, Azerbaijan shattered the â€œrisky countryâ€ image to embark on large-scale projects, the Azerbaijani leader noted.
â€œIndependent Azerbaijan built by national leader is living, developing and opening up new opportunities for our people. Our country goes along the Heydar Aliyev path. National leaderâ€™s ideological principles were established in the country,â€ he said.
The Head of State expressed assurance that Azerbaijan would continue to develop in the years to come.
â€œWe are loyal to our national leader,â€ said President Ilham Aliyev, adding â€œHeydar Aliyev policy will live in Azerbaijan foreverâ€.
A film narrating on the Heydar Aliyev Foundationâ€™s activity was shown at the ceremony.
The â€œGizil Chinarâ€ (Gold Plane tree) award instituted in 2009 by the Foundation was presented to the winners.
President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva presented the â€œGizil Chinarâ€ international award to Peopleâ€™s Artist Arif Babayev for his active participation in and contribution to Foundationâ€™s cultural projects.
Former head of UNESCO Office in Azerbaijan Mrs. Hanaa Singer was awarded for protecting childrenâ€™s rights.
â€œGizil Chinarâ€ award also went to peopleâ€™s painter Tahir Salahov for his contribution to fine arts in the country.
The awarding ceremony was followed by a concert of the Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra.
World-known Spanish tenor and conductor JosÃ© PlÃ¡cido Domingo Embil sang at the concert and met President Ilham Aliyev.