Exactly one year ago, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order appointing First Lady, head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva to the post of first vice-president of the republic.
The appointment provided Mehriban Aliyeva an opportunity to carrying out those humanitarian projects that she had worked on as head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in previous years, at a new level: the construction of schools and kindergartens in Azerbaijan, the repair and building of medical institutions, the education of the population, assistance to needy people. One of the priority directions of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's external policy was promoting Azerbaijan as a country with harmony between traditions and modernity, initiating many projects to restore and preserve cultural heritage in Europe and Asia. The head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva became the first vice-president of Azerbaijan in order to make a breakthrough in these directions, both internal and external.
Assuming the office, Mehriban Aliyeva stressed that she will continue her work for the benefit of Azerbaijan. "Throughout my work, the top priority has always been the interests of our country and our people. I am proud that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has realized a lot of large-scale and important projects. Our work has been a part of the positive changes taking place in the life of Azerbaijan. Today, my work in this new position puts new challenges and opportunities," she said.
One of the main directions of Mehriban Aliyeva's work in the new position was the issue of refugees and IDPs. At the first meeting devoted to this topic, the First Vice-President said that the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the key to solving the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons. "The territorial integrity of our country will be restored, refugees and IDPs will return to their native lands," she said.
Later the first vice-president appealed to Armenian women with an appeal to save their children from death in the war. "The main reason for the conflict and losses is the presence of Armenian soldiers on Azerbaijan's territory. I want to appeal to Armenian mothers - do not let your children to become victims of occupation policy, do not support the occupation policy. The conflict must be resolved in the near future within the framework of international legal norms and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the occupying forces must withdraw from Azerbaijan. After that, peace will reign in the region, and no mother, neither Azerbaijani nor Armenian, will shed tears over the grave of their sons," Mehriban Aliyeva urged.
At the ceremony in Masazir settlement to give new apartments to IDP families living in unusable buildings, Mehriban Aliyeva urged the international community to place greater emphasis on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement and translate words into deeds
In early April, the first vice-president together with President Ilham Aliyev launched the Journey from the Caspian of the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games. The Baku Islamic Solidarity Games, Mehriban Aliyeva also was chairman of its organizing committee, officially opened a month later. During the Games, the First Vice-President participated in awarding ceremonies. The 5th Islamic Solidarity Games were another achievement of Mehriban Aliyeva's brilliant organizational talent , along with such successes as the holding of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest and the 2015 First European Games.
When Baku hosted the First European Games, it became clear that the republic was recognized as a significant participant in international relations, including in the humanitarian sphere and in sports. This could be judged by the number of countries that arrived in Baku for the first ever sports competitions of the European continent. A total of 6067 athletes from 50 countries participated in the First European Games, including the UK (160 athletes), Germany (264 athletes), France (245 athletes), Spain (207 athletes), Italy (208 athletes) and Switzerland (123 athletes). The largest delegation to the Games arrived from Russia - 351 athletes.
A week before the Islamic Solidarity Games, First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva took an active part in the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku, where she held talks with the UNESCO and ISESCO Director-Generals. At the end of July, she spoke at the official opening of the 9th Gabala International Music Festival, where she drew attention to the fact that "the fundamental principles of Azerbaijan are peace and humanism." "Azerbaijan, which for centuries has contributed to the development of inter-civilization dialogue, historically sought to strengthen the unity between peoples. Every project that enhances the effectiveness of cultural and spiritual integration is very valuable for us. International events of recent years in our country, reaffirming that the fundamental principles of Azerbaijan are peace and humanism, bring together representatives of all peoples, regardless of language, religion or ethnicity," she noted.
In November, Mehriban Aliyeva addressed a reception in Paris in honor of the nomination of Baku as a candidate city for the exhibition 'Ехpо 2025. "This exhibition will offer the chance to write new history, in a new region, in a new era, as well as will offer the people of Azerbaijan the chance to show that we can be one of the best possible partners for the BIE. If our bid is successful, we will be the first city in the whole region of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and the Caspian to host a World Expo. We are ready to allocate all the necessary funds for the site’s construction and operation as well as to support the participation of developing countries," she stressed.
In December, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the Order of the saint Equal to the Apostles Duchess Olga of the 2nd Degree, by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia for her support of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Summing up the results of 2017, First vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva said it was successful. "This year, the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games took place in our capital with great success, our sportsmen gladdened us repeatedly, raising our flag and making our anthem be performed. At the same time, these Games became a celebration of true friendship and brotherhood. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was commissioned into operation, the second phase of the 'Contract of the Century' was signed, to be effective until 2050. Construction and renovation of new schools, kindergartens are continuing in our country. All necessary conditions have been created in the country to make sure that children receive high-level education. Baku is growing more beautiful day-by-day. Our regions are becoming more beautiful, new roads are built, the country is flourishing," she concluded.
