Russia acknowledges merits of Leyla Aliyeva

Yesterday, on National Unity Day Vladimir Putin presented state awards to foreign citizens for special merits in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and understanding between nations. "Thank you for your selfless work to preserve the wealth of Russian culture and the Russian language, for your educational work, which unites people from different continents in different camps," the Russian President said, recalling that "this holiday brings us to the great civic heroism of people of different classes and nationalities, who put an end to the tragedies of the Time of Troubles, the split, betrayal and humiliation of our country ... We are always open to economic and humanitarian cooperation, to develop common solutions in the fight against modern threats."

The Order of Friendship from the President was received by the deputy head of the parliamentary group of friendship with Russia in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Salih KAPUSUZ; the Director of the Center of Slavic Studies at Beijing Capital Normal University, one of the compilers and interpreters of the complete works of Pushkin in Chinese, Venfey Lju; the host of the interstate radio station  ‘La Radio del Sur’, and the founder and host of the radio program ‘The Roads Leading to Red Square’ from Venezuela, Alfredo Alfonso Torrealba.

A no less significant award endowed yesterday in the Kremlin was the Pushkin Medal, which is awarded to Russian citizens and foreigners for achievements in the field of culture and arts, education, humanities and literature, for their great contribution to the study and preservation of cultural heritage, in the rapprochement and mutual enrichment of cultures and nations, for the creation of highly artistic images. The Pushkin Medal was established by Presidential Decree of May 9th 1999.

This year among the award's recipients were the Professor of Helwan University, painter and sculptor, a member of the Egyptian Association of Graduates of Russian Universities, Osama AC-sulfur; the Vice President of the Academy of Education of Tajikistan, a leading expert on methods of teaching Russian, Irina Karimova; a member of the Literary Academy of Kerala, distinguished figure in the world of literature in Malayalam, an Indian scientist, Ottoplakal Nambiyadikkal Velu Kurup; Head of the Chair of Architecture and Construction of Yerevan State University, a public figure and scientist in the field of Russian and Armenian literature and linguistics, Vagharshak Madoyan; the art director of the theater-studio ‘Balagan’, actor, director and director in theaters of Spanish cities of plays by Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Gogol and Pushkin, Jose Luis Cheka; as well as the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Russia, Leyla Aliyeva.

Despite the fact that the awarding of the Pushkin Medal, as a rule, is subject to the presence of social and humanitarian work for 20 years or more for those who are getting the award, there was an exception made for Leyla Aliyeva. She has not only contributed to the development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations as the representative of a dynasty, but, despite her young age she has done a lot to preserve and popularize the Russian language and culture abroad.

Receiving the award, Leyla recalled that a Pushkin monument was installed in the center of Baku as a symbol of the deep respect of the Azerbaijani people for the great Russian culture, literature and art. Russian-Azerbaijani relations have deep historical roots, are developing successfully, and it is an integral part of their cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. Azerbaijan has fully preserved Russian-speaking education, more than 300 schools operate with teaching in Russian, there is the Baku Slavic University, the Baku branch of  Moscow State University. This year the world's first branch of the Sechenov MGMU was opened in Baku.

Leyla Aliyeva stressed that the Azerbaijani nation cherishes the tradition of cultural and humanitarian cooperation with Russia. "I am very happy that I made my modest contribution to the strengthening of friendship and good neighborliness between our two countries. Once again I express to you, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, deep gratitude for the high award. For me it is particularly valuable to receive this medal out of your hands. I wish you and all the Russian people prosperity, peace and progress,’’ the vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation said.

Note that Leyla Aliyeva also heads the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia (AYOR), and the sphere of its contribution in the development of bilateral relations and the Russian social policy is difficult to overestimate. AYOR has 70 regional offices throughout Russia, the scope of which covers health, education, culture, science, sports and the environment. AYOR holds an annual charity event dedicated to International Children's Day, when young people travel to orphanages and boarding schools and arrange holidays for children deprived of parental care. Each year our young people are involved in a charity event ‘Blood Has No Nation’ for blood donation. Many events were held in the year of the 70th anniversary of the victory over fascism for the veterans of the Great Patriotic War.

The Pushkin medal is not the first  Russian award of Leyla Aliyeva. She was awarded the medal ‘For Services to the Astrakhan Region’, ‘For Services to the Volgograd Region’,  and the Order of St Princess Olga of the III degree.