Sitting of the Security Council takes place, chaired by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

Mehriban Aliyeva was appointed First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan by an order of President Ilham Aliyev.

On February 21, a sitting of the Security Council took place, chaired by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

At the sitting, introducing Mehriban Aliyeva, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Today, by my order, Mehriban Aliyeva was appointed to the position of First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Mehriban Aliyeva has, for long years, been playing a significant and active part in the public and political life of the country, and in our cultural life. Mehriban Aliyeva is a deputy chairperson of the New Azerbaijan Party. The New Azerbaijan Party is the leading political force of our country, and it is the biggest party of the South Caucasus. Today, the number of the New Azerbaijan Party members is nearing 700 thousand.

Mehriban Aliyeva is a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan since 2005. As an MP, she has done a great deal of work, and took great steps towards the solution of social and economic problems of the constituency she has been representing. She has been keeping constant contact with her electorate, and her primary activity as an MP is associated with solution of the electorate’s problems. At the same time, Mehriban has been engaged in a very wide international activity as an MP. Due to this activity, the number of our friends in various foreign countries has grown.

Since 2004 up until today, Mehriban Aliyeva has been the president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, named after the National Leader. Under her leadership, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has become the largest and most influential public organization of not only Azerbaijan, but also the region. The multilateral activity of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been highly appreciated by the people of Azerbaijan. A number of significant projects and programmes were implemented following the Foundation’s initiative. Among them, the programme “New Schools to Renewed Azerbaijan” should be noted in particular. As a result of embarking on the implementation of this programme, over three thousand schools were basically repaired in our country for the last 13 years, and new ones built.

Other projects served our country’s multilateral development. Thousands of people were covered with medical treatment through the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and have been enjoying its support. In many cases, they are not disclosed to the general public. The Foundation’s activities aim at helping the needy, and providing support to the poor as much as its resources allow to.

Projects of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation associated with culture and art have been indispensable in preserving our spiritual, historical and cultural heritage. It was the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Mehriban Aliyeva, due to whose personal initiative the art of mugham, our national wealth, enjoyed development and was taken onto the international arena. Mugham contests held in Azerbaijan have become an integral part of our life. It is not simply a kind of art, it is our cultural wealth. National and spiritual values and traditions play a special part in educating the young generation. From this perspective, such initiatives are of great public significance. On the other hand, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has played a very big part in promoting the art of mugham on an international scale as an Azerbaijani art.

Various presentations, exhibitions and events have been held to promote Azerbaijan worldwide. Due to the holding of numerous events, the world society started to get to know our country closer, and having learned and seen it, found Azerbaijan to be a modem and dynamically developing country. The people of Azerbaijan is deeply bound with its roots.

Mehriban Aliyeva is a member of the National Olympic Committee and its Executive Committee, and her activities in this field are worth of esteem. Mehriban Aliyeva has played a special role in the organization of a number of global events held in our country. It was her organizational skills, due to which holding of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 on a high level was made possible. Holding of the first European Games in 2015 on a high level too was due to the activities of the Organizing Committee and its head Mehriban Aliyeva. To hold these Games at the level of Summer Olympic Games with only two and a half years of preparation period was, of course, a great achievement. The First European Games will enter the history as a great sports event held on a high level.

It is by no chance that Mehriban Aliyeva has been entrusted with organization of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games to be held this year. She is the chairperson of these Games’ Organizing Committee, and the preparation works are carried out on a high level. I’m confident we will be able to hold the Islamic Solidarity Games too on a high level.

Mehriban has been enjoying much influence in the world. Due to her activity, she has been awarded high state prizes and orders of a number of countries. For over ten years, Mehriban Aliyeva has been a goodwill ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO. There is not a single person in the world to have been honoured with the title of an ambassador of both these two reputable organizations at a time. This is, at the same time, associated with her contribution to dialogue between religions and civilizations. This stems from the politics our country has been pursuing. Today, Azerbaijan is recognized, on a global scale, as one of the countries having contributed to the dialogue between civilizations the most. Of course, as a goodwill ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, Mehriban has made very significant contribution to this work. For services to holding the first European Games in 2015, Mehriban Aliyeva was conferred on the highest award of the state of Azerbaijan, the Order of Heydar Aliyev.

This was that multilateral activity and, at the same time, successful activity, which has played the key role in my decision. I should also note that Mehriban Aliyeva is a highly professional, erudite, experienced, high-principled and very benevolent human. It is by no chance that the people of Azerbaijan has been showing great respect and love towards her.

Considering all the criteria I have listed, I arrived at this decision, and today, a new era is starting in Mehriban’s life. I am confident she will continue making her contribution to the development of our country. I would like to congratulate her on this appointment and wish her new achievements.

First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the sitting.

At the sitting, members of the Security Council said they endorsed the decision of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and wished successes to Mehriban Aliyeva in her activity.