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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.
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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