Ukrainian mayor lauds Azerbaijan for rebuilding devastated school, sending humanitarian aid

The mayor of Ukraine's Irpen city, Alexander Markushin, has hailed Azerbaijan for rebuilding a devastated school and providing major humanitarian aid to the city.

"We are grateful to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his support in the repair of [Azerbaijani ofthalmologist] Zarifa Aliyeva Secondary School No 12 in Irpen. Azerbaijan has provided assistance to Ukraine, as well as to Irpen in the most difficult times," Report quotes him as saying.

According to him, Azerbaijan and Irpen have maintained friendly relations for many years.

"There is a Zarifa Aliyeva Park in our city, a monument to []Zarifa Aliyeva. Moreover, one of our main streets and even the largest school is named after Zarifa Aliyeva. We confirmed our friendship with real steps. The school was damaged as a result of a Russian attack. The gym, the central building and the roof of the school were destroyed as a result of the bombing, all the windows were broken.

Azerbaijan has provided us with great support and assumed the costs of repairing the educational institution. By repairing the destroyed school, Azerbaijan has provided great humanitarian assistance to our city. Thus, Azerbaijan has shown that it is a great friend not only of Ukraine but also of the 'hero city' of Irpen. On our behalf, on behalf of the residents of the city, we are grateful to SOCAR [State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic], Azerbaijan's ambassador to Ukraine and the Azerbaijani Diaspora for the fact that the largest school in our city was renovated and put into use before September 1. You are true friends of Ukraine, of our city," he said.

Director of the school Valentina Antonenko thanked Azerbaijani President Aliyev for the provided support.

"On my own behalf, on behalf of teachers, parents, and students, I express my sincere gratitude to the wise statesman, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for a unique gift - the revival of our school, which bears the name of the great daughter of the Azerbaijani people, the great mother of the great son Zarifa Aliyeva. Dear president, I am grateful and bow before you for this priceless gift. Because our children now have the opportunity to study at their native school. I wish you good health, prosperity, and peace to your beautiful country. We sincerely thank the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan, SOCAR Energy Ukraine for the charitable mission, for the high-quality repair of our school under the leadership of Elchin Mammadov."