ID :
56194
Sun, 04/19/2009 - 01:17
Auther :

LEYLA ALIYEVA ELECTED CHAIR OF RUSSIA`S AZERBAIJANI YOUTH ORGANIZATION

Moscow, 18 April (AzerTAc). An inaugural conference of Russia`s Azerbaijani Youth Organization (RAYO) has today elected head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s office in Russia, Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, as the organization`s chair.
The conference brought together about 300 representatives from 83 Azerbaijani youth clubs and initiative groups from 60 regions from across Russia as well as Azerbaijani guests and Russian officials.
Addressing the event, Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva talked about what the initiative groups have been doing in Moscow and other Russian regions. She said Azerbaijani youth clubs function in almost all regions of Russia, describing their work as successful.
Azerbaijani minister of youth and sports Azad Rahimov said establishing RAYO would contribute to developing Azerbaijan`s diaspora.
“Azerbaijan`s youth policy initiated by nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev is being successfully carried out today,” Rahimov said.
Touching upon the Azerbaijan-Russia relations, the minister said reciprocal visits and meetings of the two presidents make contribution to developing youth policy of both countries.
He also praised activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s office in Russia.
Russian Deputy Minister for Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy Oleg Rozhnov said Russia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners. He expressed confidence RAYO will establish good relations with Russia`s youth organizations, vowing his country will support the organization`s initiatives.
Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva made closing remarks, saying “thank you very much for electing me as chair of this organization”.
“I am ready to work with all organizations whose aim is promoting Azerbaijan`s culture and national heritage,” said Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva.
She also touched upon Azerbaijan`s economic development, noting “Azerbaijan has been the world`s number one in terms of economic development”.
“The poverty levels has declined from 49 to 13 percent in our country over last few years.”
“Azerbaijan is also involved in large-scaled transport and energy projects... The country is also making huge investments in education. Some 1700 schools were constructed over last four years. Developing culture is another key priority for Azerbaijan. Great job has been done to reconstruct old theatres, museums and historical monuments.”
She also touched upon Armenia`s conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying as a result of which one fifth of Azerbaijan`s territories were occupied and one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and IDPs.
She said Azerbaijani leadership has always supported peaceful resolution of the conflict within the country`s territorial integrity. Mrs. Aliyeva expressed assurance “the conflict will be solved in near future, Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity will be restored and all refugees and IDPs will return their homes”.
On the Azerbaijan-Russia relations, Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva said the two countries “are bound together by ties of history and culture. We in Azerbaijan have much respect towards the Russian culture, the Russian language”.
“We hope all our ideas and initiatives will come true, bringing our youth closer to each other and strengthening friendship between our peoples,” she said.

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