The Peoples’ Friendship Bridge of Azerbaijan and Russia opened in Astrakhan today. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Fund and head of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia, and Governor of the Astrakhan Region Alexander Zhilkin attended the opening, Trend reports.
Flowers were laid at the Heydar Aliyev monument in Astrakhan.
Leyla Aliyeva said that studies of the Russian language are active at the Baku Slav University, the Russian Drama Theater, the Russian Center for Information and Culture, branch of the Moscow State University of Lomonosov.
She noted that Azerbaijan has a 70% share in the economy of the South Caucasus, despite 20% of its land being occupied by Armenia and about 1 million people left as refugees and forced migrants.
The vice president of the Heydar Aliyev Fund said that the organization was founded in 2004. It has helped build and reconstruct about 400 schools. One of its latest developments was an exhibition of modern art organized with the support of Baku Magazine. It was called “Fly to Baku. Contemporary Art of Azerbaijan”. It was held in London and Paris and will be held in Berlin, Rome, New York and Moscow.
The Heydar Aliyev Fund has built schools in Pakistan, Russia, Georgia, Netherlands, Romania and Egypt.
Environmental protection is another essential aspect of the fund’s work. It formed the international movement called IDEA a year ago to protect the environment and inform young people about nature.
Governor Zhilkin said that the support of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Astrakhan improves ties between the two peoples living together by the Caspian Sea.
Construction of the Friendship Bridge was initiated by Ilham Aliyev during his visit to Astrakhan in 2010. It was founded at the 1st Russian-Azerbaijani Interregional Forum “Russia-Azerbaijan: towards new horizons of interregional cooperation” in May 2011. The bridge is 50 meters long and 6 meters wide.
Leyla Aliyeva attended the founding of a monument of Duke Vladimir at the Saint Duke Vladimir Cathedral in Astrakhan on Wednesday. The monument will be 14.5 meters tall, constructed by Azerbaijani and Russian sculptors.
The Mechta Children’s Recreation Center was opened at the Heydar Aliyev Park. The center covers about 1200 meters. It has 7 attractions for children and a children’s café under construction.
