Baku, September 25, AZERTAC

At the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Moldova, Bashkan of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia Irina Vlah was awarded the Friend of Azerbaijan Golden Order, established by My Azerbaijan International Magazine.

The Golden Order was presented to Irina Vlah at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Moldova by Chief Editor of My Azerbaijan International Magazine Emil Nasirli.

Chief Editor Emil Nasirli noted that the ties between Azerbaijan and Gagauzia have a long history based on sincere relations. Nasirli said that these ties were laid as far back as in the days of the late President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. “In subsequent years, our relationship has expanded even more. Today, Azerbaijan and Gagauzia are closely cooperating in the economic, educational and cultural spheres. In addition, we should note social projects carried out by the leaders of Azerbaijan in Gagauzia.”

Alternatively, Emil Nasirli noted that the Azerbaijani diaspora has very good relations with the leaders of the Republic of Moldova and Gagauzia. “With the support of the Azerbaijani diaspora, Gagauzia has repeatedly hosted creative teams from Azerbaijan with full halls of houses of culture. The cordial atmosphere that is inherent in these meetings speaks of our long-standing fraternal ties and the common history of past centuries. Our people are very grateful to the fraternal Gagauz people and, as a sign of many years of friendship and support, established a bust of the prominent figure of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, in the Walk of Fame of Gagauzia.

The magazine’s staff is very pleased that you have been awarded the Friend of Azerbaijan Golden Order, and greatly appreciates your efforts to strengthen the Azerbaijani-Gagauz friendship,” Emil Nasirli said.

Handing Irina Vlah a Diploma of the Honorary Member of the Editorial Board of the Magazine, Aurelia Grigoriu, Honorary Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Magazine, Director of the Representative Office of the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre noted that Moldova and Azerbaijan are a vivid example of countries moving along the path of multicultural development. The Baku model of multiculturalism is supported and promoted by My Azerbaijan International Magazine. The 100th anniversary of the creation of the first parliamentary republic in the Muslim East, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, was marked on May 28, 2018. In this regard, by the decision of the Editorial Board of My Azerbaijan International Magazine dated May 28, 2017, the 100 Closest Friends of Azerbaijan Project was launched. High awards are given according to public opinion polls to presidents of the states, prominent scientific and public figures who support and develop friendship with the people of Azerbaijan. Being a prominent political figure, Irina Vlah makes an invaluable contribution to the development and deepening of relations of the Gagauz people with the friendly people of Azerbaijan.

Chairman of the Congress of Azerbaijanis of Moldova Vugar Novruzov, who noted the long-standing, warm and fruitful relations of the Congress of Azerbaijanis with the people of the Gagauz Autonomous Formation in Moldova, also took part in the award ceremony. The Gagauzs, one of the representatives of the Turkic Peoples, manage to maintain their national identity, culture and history due to comprehensive conditions created for ethnic minorities in the Republic of Moldova. A great merit in the preservation and development of the cultural heritage of the Gagauzs belongs to Irina Vlah.

Accepting the award, the Bashkan of Gagauzia, Irina Vlah, noted that she is an active supporter of the development of multiculturalism, warm and friendly relations with neighbouring peoples, and considers the promotion of relations of fraternal Gagauz and Azerbaijan peoples not only a requirement of the present, but also a spiritual imperative of belonging the peoples to the common Turkic roots. The preservation of the identity, language and culture of the Gagauzs is the most important step in the process of preserving the people and the Turkic world as a whole.

The Bashkan of Gagauzia expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for the support provided to the Gagauz people. She spoke about the vivid impressions of the meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev about the expectation of the visit of the President of Azerbaijan in Moldova, including Gagauzia to open a large cultural centre, built on the investment of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, about the historical roots that connect us. She noted particular warm relations with the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Moldova, Ambassador Gudsi Osmanov, Congress of Azerbaijanis of Moldova, emphasizing the cooperation and support from Chairman Vugar Novruzov personally.

Irina Vlah emphasized that the joint projects carried out by Azerbaijan, Moldova and Gagauzia serve to further strengthen the cooperation.

Bashkan of Gagauzia Irina Vlah was awarded for beneficial activities in the development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Moldova, in particular, Gagauzia and for cooperation in the economic, political, humanitarian, scientific and cultural fields, and thanked the Editorial Council and the staff of My Azerbaijan International Magazine for awarding this order.

The Editorial Staff of My Azerbaijan Magazine and the Representative Office of the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre expressed gratitude to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Moldova Gudsi Osmanov and the adviser to the Embassy Leyla Elman.