A new park symbolising the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Russia was opened in the Russian city of Volgograd, December 20.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, head of the Public and Political Affairs Department under the Administration of the Azerbaijani President Ali Hasanov, chairperson of the Volgograd Region’s Government Sergey Bojenov, head of Volgograd city Irina Guseva, and other officials.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva thanked for a sincere reception. Talking of the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s Russian Representative Office, Leyla Aliyeva underlined that, during the last few years, a school building was built in the Russian city of Ulyanovsk, the Culture Centre of Azerbaijan opened at the M.I.Rudomino All-Russian State Foreign Literature Library, and a monument was erected at the “Nevski Pitochok” International Alley in the Leningrad Region in memory of the Azerbaijani soldiers perished in battles for Leningrad during 1941-1944. Leyla Aliyeva mentioned also that a park, a school building, and a playground were built, and the foundation of a new kindergarten was laid in Astrakhan, with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Saying that great Russian culture, literature and history are treated with great respect in Azerbaijan, Leyla Aliyeva said teaching of the Russian language was maintained in its full volume in the country’s schools, and the Russian Drama Theatre, the Russian Culture Centre, the Baku Slavic University, and a branch of the M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University operated in Baku. Leyla Aliyeva expressed confidence that the Azerbaijan-Russia relations based on friendship, trust and mutual understanding will be strengthened and developed further.

First deputy chairperson of the Volgograd Region Roland Kherianov said, in his speech, that Azerbaijani building workers have, in a short time, laid out a beautiful park in the city. Residents of Volgograd are thankful for this to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. He said this park will serve to strengthening of the friendly ties between Russia and Azerbaijan. He mentioned also that there was the Baku street in Volgograd, and that Azerbaijani soldiers  had heroically fought at Stalingrad battles during the years of the Great Patriotic War.  

Head of Volgograd city Irina Guseva said the Regional Government is willing to erect a monument in Baku in memory of heroes of the Stalingrad battles.

Adviser to the Department of the Russian President’s Administration for Interregional and Cultural Relations Valery Maksimov said the territory of Volgograd’s central culture and recreation park has, in a short period of time, become a very picturesque, beautiful and flourishing area. A comfortable infrastructure has been created here for city residents  and guests’ rest.  

A park covering over seven hectares features a bas-relief of Azerbaijani people’s national leader Heydar Aliyev, a playground, green zone, “Buta” and “Chay” fountains, “Maiden Tower” monument,  the Baku cafe, and a photo-stand of Nobel brothers. At the end of the 19^th  century, the Nobel township was here, in the place of the park.  And during the Great Patriotic War, oil brought from Baku through the Volga River had been stored in reservoirs here. Fuel made of that Baku oil got battle aircrafts and tanks going.

It should be mentioned that the park’s foundation was laid on June 5, 2013, during the ceremony held on the first day of the 4^th International Forum “Russia-Azerbaijan: Interregional Dialogue-2013”.

After the inauguration of the park, the delegation led by Leyla Aliyeva met with Governor Sergey Bojenov at the building of the Volgograd Government.

At the meeting, Leyla Aliyeva emphasized that relations between Azerbaijan and Volgograd will be developed, and new projects implemented. Leyla Aliyeva brought to attention that a new division of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia will be opened in this region.

As a result of the bilateral meeting, a cooperation agreement-protocol was signed between the Volgograd Region and Azerbaijan on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural spheres.

Within the framework of the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation took part in the inauguration of the new sports ground built with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the courtyard of Gymnasium No.3 in Volgograd.