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I am satisfi ed with the Congress of the Ukrainian Azerbaijanis. So is Leonid 
Kuchma. I wish the Azerbaijanis in other countries could be so much organized. 
Please, convey my regards to all the women.
Irina Golubeva (chairman of the National Council of the Ukrainian Women): 
There is a union, called Novaya Ukraina, which includes tens of parties. I heard a 
young man making a speech in fl uent Ukrainian. He was the deputy chairman of the 
Congress.
I proposed Mrs. Rzayeva to join our organization. I thank you for your initiative. 
You involved us to the solution of problems within GUUAM. We discussed the 
peace initiatives. We included in our resolution that we shall always hold women`s 
forums.
In the Name of the Azerba  ani Woman

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SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF  AZERBAIJAN 
HEYDAR ALIYEV AT THE MEETING WITH THE PLAYERS OF 
«AZERRAIL» VOLLEYBALL TEAM
 March 14, 2002
Distinguished sportsmen, volleyball players!
Dear friends! 
I congratulate you, wish you health and lots of victories. I hope that by winning 
the European cup you laid the foundation of new victories. We shall look forward to 
them and support you. Your triumph makes all the citizens of Azerbaijan happy and 
proud. I watched your semi-fi nal and fi nal games on TV. I saw how you struggled 
for victory. At the same time, I saw a lot of fans expecting your victory. Seeing your 
victory and the  support of fans, I became sure in  the development of our sport 
in the recent years. The sport in our country is developing and becoming popular. 
Regular tournaments are being held in schools, universities and sports complexes 
in Azerbaijan. 
The number of our youth going for in sports has increased. They train and practice 
for victories. It is the fi rst sign of the popularization of sport. The second is the 
popular interest in sport. However, 7-8 years ago sports in Azerbaijan were almost 
forgotten. 
In the past the level of sports in Azerbaijan was high. Now its level is higher than 
ever. In order to reach this height our sportsmen went through a hard period. 
If you remember, the biggest sport fi eld in Azerbaijan was in disorder in 1992-
1993. We did our best to restore that stadium. Now it meets the high standards. 
Then a foreign football team came to Azerbaijan, but didn’t like the state of the 
stadium. Therefore, they were obliged to play the match in Sumgayit. I was surprised 
when I heard this. But it was true. Do you remember the state of your volleyball 
fi eld constructed in 1970? Till the recent times it was used as a furniture store. It was 
because of some people, who were in the government in 1992-1993. 
Since the restoration of the sport complex international tournaments in many 
sports have been organized there. All the people of Azerbaijan watched your games 
and felt very happy when you won. 
In the Name of the Azerba  ani Woman

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The National Olympic Committee built a new sport complex. Now international 
tournaments take place there. The National Olympic Committee constructs sport 
complexes also in other places. I participated at the inauguration ceremony of the 
sport complex built in Mashtaga. 
As Ilham Aliyev told me, the European championship on wrestling will take place 
in Azerbaijan in May. Therefore, we reconstruct our sport palace. Ilham Aliyev and 
the mayor of Baku are engaged in it. 
That Sport Palace is a big complex. I remember that we began its building in 
1973.  Later I visited it, while it was being constructed. After the construction, the 
Palace didn’t serve its primary goal like others for some time. Now the National 
Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism are restoring it. 
I hope that we shall watch the European championship on wrestling there in May. 
The number and the level of our sportsmen are increasing. They achieve triumphs 
in international tournaments. Sport is becoming popular in Azerbaijan now, while a 
lot of people go in for sports and the public pays great attention to it. 
I am sure that your fi nal game was watched in every Azerbaijani home. There were 
a lot of fans in the sport complex, as well. This demonstrates the rapid development 
of our sport. The achievements in sport, along with the achievements in other fi elds, 
are of great importance. Because sport is very useful for the health of people. Sport 
is a culture, too. This may show the level of culture of any nation. While developing, 
our sport improves our culture, too. 
When our sportsmen participate and win in international tournaments in other 
countries, they represent our country and raise our fl ag. Sport is the best means to 
demonstrate the national symbols of Azerbaijan everywhere. You, sportsmen, do 
this. This lays great responsibility on you and wins respect for you.  
We are happy that the National Olympic Committee has achieved so much in 
sport within a short time. Much work has been done for the expansion of sport. 
The National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism 
develop our sport together. These are the achievements of Azerbaijan. 
Dear sportsmen, you have reached these achievements. We thank you for them. 
We should also mention the efforts of the National Olympic Committee and its 
chairman Ilham Aliyev, as well as the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism and 
minister Abulfaz Garayev. 
In the Name of the Azerba  ani Woman

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