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On December 29, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation organized a traditional festivity at Buta Palace for children, on the eve of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the New Year holidays.

First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, her grandchild, Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, and Arzu Aliyeva attended the festivity.

Children arrived at the venue where the festivity had to take place by specially allocated buses. A fairy-tale-like environment was created for the children in a place decorated to special taste and placed at children’s disposal, in order to please children. Following First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva’s initiative, each year, on the eve of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the Ney Year holidays, festivities are arranged for children from children homes, boarding schools, and for those in need of special care. This tradition was maintained this year too.

The festivity started by a show of a video footage about the meetings of national leader Heydar Aliyev, President Ilham Aliyev and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva with children, and care and attention shown by them towards children.

A programme prepared in a new arrangement was presented to festivity participants.

First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva shared children’s joy, and had sincere conversation with them.

First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the festivity:

- Respected teachers, dear parents and children. It’s been over ten years that we have been bidding farewell to the ending years, welcoming the upcoming ones. I am very glad we are again together.

The New Year holiday is one of the most favourite holidays. Traditionally, people celebrate this holiday together with their family members, relatives and friends. We too are celebrating today the New Year holiday as a great close family.

I am hopeful the year 2017 was successful for each of you, and for the whole Azerbaijani people. Construction and renovation works are continuing in our country, and our cities, villages and regions are becoming more beautiful, and developing. As you know, the year 2017 was declared “The Year of Islamic Solidarity”. Azerbaijan has been a part and parcel of the Islamic world. We have been showing great respect and attention towards our religion, history, and culture. At the same time, our country is open to the world. We are willing to build our cooperation with other states on the basis of brotherhood and mutual respect. As you know, this year, the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games took place in our capital with great success, in which our sportsmen gladdened us repeatedly, raising our flag and making our anthem be performed. At the same time, these Games became a true holiday of solidarity, bringing together representatives of all Islamic countries, turning into the celebration of true friendship and brotherhood.

In 2017, very important projects for not only Azerbaijan, but also of regional importance were implemented. As you know, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was commissioned into operation, the second phase of the “Contract of the Century” was signed, to be effective until 2050. Works in other areas are continuing. We have been solving issues facing us in a consistent fashion, removing problems. Construction and renovation of new schools, kindergartens are continuing in our country. All necessary conditions have been created in the country to make sure that children receive high-level education. Baku is growing more beautiful day-by-day. Our regions are becoming more beautiful, new roads are built, the country is flourishing.

I am hopeful the year 2017 will remain in your memory with pleasant moments, and events full of joy. I am hopeful this year was successful for you. I wish all of you sound health, successes, and happiness in 2018. I wish our children to be brought up well-educated. I wish them to treat their friends, relatives and all those around them with good will and respect. May your path be open, hearts full of light! I congratulate all of you from the bottom of my heart on the upcoming World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and New Year.

Dear children, you should also know that a lot of people have made their contribution to arranging this festivity. It’s been over 10 years that our famous artists, musicians have been celebrating together with you the New Year in this beautiful Buta Palace, creating for you very nice and joyful environment. Let’s welcome these nice and kind people together, and express our gratitude to them.

I congratulate each of you once more from the bottom of my heart, and wish you sound health, happiness, and peace to our country. May God always protect each of you and our country! Thank you very much.

XXX

At the end of the festivity, each participant was presented a holiday gift from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.