"We are presenting the rich culture of Azerbaijan"

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva gave an interview to Vestnik Kavkaza in connection with an evening of Azerbaijan held in Moscow in the Grand Kremlin Palace.

- Did you expect to win the Eurovision?

- Of course, we were waiting for it and dreamed about winning. I think that each country wants to win this prestigious competition. Azerbaijan participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for four times. Previously we have already managed to win high positions: the third, fifth and eight places. This time we were the first. Emotions one experiences when winning cannot be compared with anything else. This is a great pride and joy for us. We are grateful to everyone who supported us and grateful to Russia which gave us 12 points. The next year, we will welcome everyone for the Eurovision 2012 in Baku.


- A sort of musical hello, something which is called "from Baku with love." By the way, once we started talking about love, how are things with AMOR?

- AMOR is developing; its geography is constantly expanding. At the moment, AMOR has its representative offices not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but almost in all the regions of Russia – in Tver, Ivanovo, Kirov, Tula, Yekaterinburg and many other cities. New Azerbaijani  youth clubs continue to open in the universities in Moscow, and we cooperate with them closely and fruitfully. In the beginning of June we will organize the Third Forum of AMOR, which will be held in St. Petersburg this time. It will bring together more than 500 people; all of them will participate in the conference, which will analyze the work already done, as well as discuss new challenges. The Forum will host thematic sections roundtables on media, international relations, diplomacy, economics, entrepreneurship, medicine and sports. A concert with leading masters of the Russian and Azerbaijani stage will take place for guests and participants of the forum; more than 3 thousand people have already been invited to the concert. Young people from various organizations will come to congratulate AMOR. I am confident that the meeting in the northern capital of Russia will be fruitful. We have a lot of plans and interesting ideas. Every year we gain new friends and become more and more significant.

- How did the idea for today's event was born? What is its purpose? And which aspects would you highlight?

- Today we are presenting the rich culture of Azerbaijan. The evening has hosted an exhibition of ancient Karabakh carpets, over 80 exhibits were presented, some of them dating back to the eighteenth century; these are the best examples of Azerbaijani carpet weaving. The Karabakh School shows the uniqueness and beauty of this naturally astonishing region of Azerbaijan. A concert of Azerbaijani masters took place, and presented the best works of classical, folk, jazz and pop music to the Moscow audience. This program has already been presented to audiences in Paris and London. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation plans to organize similar events in Italy, Turkey, Germany and several other countries. I am pleased that it had taken place in Russia, and in my opinion it was held on a very good, high level. So many guests have come and liked it, they all supported us. The most important of all: they have learned something about the rich culture of Azerbaijan. I am sure that such events only contribute to strengthening cultural ties between countries and lead to a better understanding between the peoples. We are still planning to organize an exhibition of paintings of Azerbaijani artists, which is also going to take place in different countries of the world, and certainly in Russia, but so far it is only an idea.


- The independent Azerbaijan is 20 years old; you are almost the same age with the country. These 20 years can be divided into two periods: the first one is remembered by its post-Soviet stat of ruin and war, the second – by stabilization and sharp economic development. This second period will always be associated with the name of your grandfather, Heydar Aliyev. Which of his advices have helped you most in life?

- Now I realize how lucky I was. I was happy to be born next to such person. People who came in contact with him even for a short period of time, profited from this communication with lessons valuable for their whole lives. I had a chance to see him every day, as well as listen and talk to him, and it was a great school incomparable to anything else. The most surprising in my relationship with him was the lack of guidance, he never dictated anything nor imposed his own views, he only directed and provided the opportunity to find and take the right decision myself. This was a man whom I believed in everything, because I knew that he could not make a mistake, for I knew that he never had hopeless situations or insoluble problems, he always found the only correct decision. He was the emanation of good, he carried good to his people and his country. Therefore, I am convinced that if you do good things and believe in them, you are able to achieve anything in life.

Interview by Alexei Vlasov, editor-in-chief of Vestnik Kavkaza.