Kyiv grateful to Azerbaijan for support to war-affected Ukrainian children PHOTO

Former Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Latvia, Adviser to the Vice-Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Oleksandr Mishchenko has expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for its help in improving the health of Ukrainian children affected by Russia’s war.

“I had a great pleasure, together with Verkhovna Rada Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratyuk, to escort the first group of children who left Ukraine by bus to Warsaw on the evening of August 2 to fly to Baku for a holiday in Azerbaijan. The group of 30 children left for Baku, consisting of those whose parents are currently at the front, as well as children of the fallen defenders of Ukraine,” Caliber.Az quotes Mishchenko as saying in a Facebook post.

He noted that Azerbaijan’s Labour and Social Protection Ministry is the organiser of the recreation of Ukrainian children in Azerbaijan, the host party.

"Within the working visit of Olena Kondratyuk to Baku in May this year, meetings of the Verkhovna Rada Vice-Speaker with the [Azerbaijani Labour] Minister Sahil Babayev were held, where all issues regarding the programme of recuperation and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children in Azerbaijan were discussed. The Ukrainian embassy in Azerbaijan is actively involved in the implementation of the programme and is in constant contact with the persons accompanying children to Azerbaijan," the adviser to the parliament’s deputy speaker said.

He said that for a fortnight Ukrainian children will live in a comfortable hotel near the capital of Azerbaijan - Baku, noting that a rich programme has been prepared for them, which will include psychological rehabilitation.

"As the ex-ambassador of Ukraine to Azerbaijan, I am very glad that in this difficult time, especially for Ukrainian children, they will have the opportunity to get acquainted with our good friend Azerbaijan, feel the hospitality of the fraternal Azerbaijani people, visit such historical gems as the ancient cities of Shaki and Shamakhi, with their caravanserais, and also to see the mountain tourist centre - the city of Gabala. I do not exclude that our children will have 'significant trials' since Azerbaijanis are extremely hospitable people, and the program of the visit of Ukrainian children provides for a wide acquaintance with traditional Azerbaijani cuisine, including master classes on making real homemade baklava!" Mishchenko writes.

"We thank Azerbaijan for its help in improving the health of Ukrainian children - our future! Thanks to the official Baku for its unwavering position in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the conditions of Ukraine's struggle with Russian aggression," the adviser to the Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada stressed.