On July 5th the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev presented the Dostlug Order (‘Friendship’) and Tereggi Progress Medal to a group of public figures, for their contributions to the strengthening of friendship of nations, and development of Azerbaijani diaspora. The award was made during a recess in the Third Congress of World Azerbaijanis at the Heydar Aliyev Palace.

The Presidential Decree of July 4, 2011 on the awarding was read out.

The President presented the ‘Dostlug’ Order Of Friendship to President of the European Azerbaijanis Congress Bashar Komur, Honor Doctor of the Azerbaijan University Ertan Demirtash, President of AzIs Azerbaijan-Israel International Association Josef Shagal, Chairman of Marmara Group Strategic and Social Studies Foundation Mehmet Akkan Suver, Rector of Northern Cyprus Near East University Suat Gunsel, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Kolesnikov. The President similarly awarded the Tereggi Progress Medal to the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mrs Leila Aliyeva.

The Award was made to Leila Aliyeva - the Chairman of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia, General Coordinator of Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation - for her contribution to the organizational formation of Azerbaijanis living abroad, and for raising the world community`s awareness about Azerbaijan`s realities.