Azerbaijan, Astrakhan officials hail national leader's role in formation of ties

Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Governor of Russia’a Astrakhan Igor Babushkin talked about the role of Heydar Aliyev in establishing bilateral ties, as well as future cooperation prospects.

The officials met in Astrakhan, which is holding a number of commemorative events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, Report informs.

The Russian official pointed out that he asked and received the support of President Ilham Aliyev in organizing these events, which resulted in the hosting of various conferences, round tables, TV shows and competitions dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev since the start of the year.

“All this, of course, once again proves how warm and friendly relations we have. Heydar Aliyev put the invariable principle of building good relations at the interregional level into the basis of his policy. His personality is of great importance to us, since it was he who stood at the origins of the creation and formation of such relationships. The foundation laid by Heydar Aliyev in the very path of the formation of regions is the basis for the continuation of our friendly and business contacts,” Babushkin added.

In turn, Mustafayev stressed the great potential for the development of bilateral relations.

“The great leader did a lot during the leadership of Soviet Azerbaijan. We believe that in modern conditions there are grounds for a multiple increase in our cooperation. There are many interesting ideas for various directions. Education has always been at the centre of Heydar Aliyev's attention. And taking this as a basis, President Ilham Aliyev ordered the construction of an orphanage, the reconstruction and restoration of the Heydar Aliyev school in Astrakhan,” he remarked.

Furthermore, Astrakhan’s ex-governor Alexander Zhilkin emphasized that Heydar Aliyev managed to build a development program for Azerbaijan in a difficult period for Azerbaijan.

“We are witnesses of Azerbaijan's development thanks to Heydar Aliyev. I want to note that President Ilham Aliyev is successfully continuing the policy of Heydar Aliyev. I was lucky to meet Heydar Alievich in my youth. I express my gratitude to the government and President Ilham Aliyev for the policy of interaction with the Astrakhan region,” he noted.