Leila Aliyeva, Head of Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s Representation in the Russian Federation, Chairwoman of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia (AYOR), met with Azerbaijani freshmen studying at higher schools in Moscow and Russia’s regions at Yunost Hotel in Moscow, October 28. 

Congratulating them on the start of the academic year Leila Aliyeva said the opportunity of studying at the Russian higher schools is the strong beginning, fundamental base for them to build their future. To her, not only education process, but also communication, friendship, solidarity with representatives of its generation, feeling support and care of friends and kind people is necessary. Stressing establishment of AYOR was linked just to this purpose its Chairwoman talked in detail of the Organization’s constituent assembly attended by youth from Russia’s 60 regions. 

She underlined AYOR operates actively and successfully. L.Aliyeva said: ‘The Organization’s site has been developed that our youth can communicate, partake in contests, join discussions of interesting news. AYOR closely cooperates with administration of the Russian higher schools. The Azeri student clubs are operating and being opened in majority of them, and not only in Moscow but in a number of regions of Russia as well. Our movement is developing, the number of our friends and colleagues increasing. We aim to achieve decent propaganda of rich culture, ancient history, national traditions of Azerbaijan by our youth living in Russia’. She mentioned yearly the Azerbaijan culture and tolerance days, weeks, conferences, concerts, photo exhibitions are organized in a number of higher schools in Russia. AYOR holds conferences on the Khojaly tragedy annually.    

Noting AYOR pays huge attention to charity Leila Aliyeva mentioned ‘Blood Has No Nation’ action which has been held twice and will be arranged yearly, visits by youth to children homes, the disabled and elderly homes. She said: ‘Certainly, the Organization renders attention to sport and intellectual achievements of youth, performances of the Merry and Witty Club teams, backgammon contests, ‘What? Where? When?’ game. In late spring we held mini football championship for the Heydar Aliyev Cup, which brought together 16 leading schools of Moscow. This contest will be organized yearly’. 

Informing of future plans of AYOR its Head underlined the Azerbaijani language, history, literature, national dance classes, also the Azerbaijan School in Moscow will be opened.

Leila Aliyeva said: ‘Today’s meeting creates such a confidence that we can be the one team and together do a lot of useful and kind works. Only in Moscow the number of members of AYOR exceeds thousand, we have thousands of associates across Russia. AYOR is ready to help all Azeri youth who are and not member at the Organization. We are ready to back all your ideas, initiatives. We have created the honor students award fund to inspire students. Awards will be granted in the end of the academic year’.   

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu expressed gratitude to Leila Aliyeva for the active civic position aiming at bringing the Azeri youth together at the only many-branched all-Russian organization, saying youth in all regions of Russia welcome establishment and large-scale act of AYOR. Stressing services of national leader Heydar Aliyev in formation of Azeri diaspora abroad the Ambassador said: ‘The great leader always paid huge attention to problems of our diaspora abroad. The I Congress of World Azeris was held at the initiative and with participation of Heydar Aliyev. That line is successfully continued today by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who pays great attention to the Azerbaijani diaspora not in Russia only but all over the world’. 

Dean of the Foreign Students Education Department at the Moscow State International Relations Institute Vladimir Shishkin, Vice Rector of the Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy Renat Alyautdin, Chief of the International Relations Department at the Moscow State Legal Academy Nikolay Molchanov highly valued operation of AYOR and the Azeri student clubs at higher schools.

V.Shishkin said AYOR can do more to give better idea to people in Russia of Azeri culture, traditions and life of our people, saying: ‘Work of AYOR is the personification of the idea of internationalism gradually restored in this course’.

Appreciating the Organization’s activity R.Alyautdin offered formation of the medical section and his support to realization of scientific conferences, congresses of young scholars, sport contests.

N.Molchanov stated AYOR opens opportunities for communication, friendship, exchange of visions among higher schools. Highly assessing operation of the Azeri Student Club having initiated holding the Azerbaijan Constitution Day – November 12 at the Legal Academy he said: ‘Management of the higher school welcomed that initiative with pleasure. We hope along with delegates of the Azeri Student Club we will decently hold this event that will serve future development of the Russia-Azerbaijan cooperation’.

Then, Chairwoman of AYOR Leila Aliyeva and Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu replied questions from students on future actions of the Organization.

The hymn of AYOR was played in the end.

Film on the Organization’s constituent assembly was shown. The lobby of the Hotel included stands of the Azeri student clubs of various higher schools that are members at AYOR, a special stand reflecting on the Russia’s map the regions where the Azeri student clubs of AYOR act.