President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev received at the President Palace the chairman of the Ukraine state committee for national minorities and migration Gennadiy Moskal, 10 November.

Warmly greeting the guest, President Ilham Aliyev said:

“Dear Mr. Chairman,

Dear guests, I welcome all of you in Azerbaijan. Between our countries, there exist historically good, friendly relations. In all times, the peoples of Ukraine and Azerbaijan, experience to each other mutual respect and sympathy. It is very pleased that after regaining state independence, between our independent countries established were relations on the ground of friendship and mutual understanding. Great contributions to the establishment of these relations were made by our presidents – Leonid Kuchma and Heydar Aliyev. Friendly ties of the heads of state predetermined character of the relations between our countries.

We have, in all fields, both in the international issues and the issues of bilateral relations mutual understanding, mutual support. WE actively cooperate, as You know, in the frame of international organizations. Recently, in September, being in Ukraine, I reassured that the relations between our two countries play a great role both in the frame of CIS, and, of course, in larger scale.

Taking the opportunity, convey, please, to the dear President Leonid Danilovich Kuchma my gratitude for hospitality, I was rendered in the Ukraine land. I think, these relations will further develop and become firmer.

You lead very important department, which is responsible for problems in the field of international relations.

I can tell You that in Azerbaijan we have many achievements in this field. And historically there were not problems on national ground, it is pleased that in the period of re-establishment of independent state there are no such problems. There was a hard period in our history, the 1991-1993s, when in this field was admitted very serious errors, I would say even there were committed crimes. They gave assessment to the citizens not for their quality, but for national belonging. But the people of Azerbaijan expressed its attitude to this policy in 1993, inviting Heydar Aliyev to the power. And since, these problems in Azerbaijan are successfully resolved, every citizen of Azerbaijan, irrespective of his nationality and faith, enjoys full status. Peace and tranquility in the international relations is one of the major riches of our Country. We shall continue and strengthen this policy.

I know that You had meetings, bilateral contacts, exchange of views in our country. I think, this will promote us to have good contact inn this field. Very active and successfully integrated Azerbaijani community has been formed in Ukraine. Of course, we would like that the Azerbaijanis residing in Ukraine, actively took part in the public processes, became a contacting squad between our countries. Sure, it will be.

I would like once again to greet You and hope that your short stay here will be useful fore our bilateral relations”.

Expressing his gratitude to the head of Azerbaijani state, for warm reception, Gennadiy Moskal said:

“Thank you, Mr. President,

First, I would like to congratulate You with election to high position of President of Azerbaijan Republic, wish You successes. I would like to thank to You that despite of your busy schedule, You found time to meet our delegation.

I want to inform You that we met with the Ukraine communities in numerous places, and on behalf of the government of Ukraine I want express gratitude for the attention, which both You and the former President spared to the Ukrainians, living here. It was already noted that Ukrainians feel here normally, they have no any problems.

A member of our delegation is the chairman of the Congress of Azerbaijanis in Ukraine. I want to tell that the president and government, the Parliament of Ukraine do all possible that the nationalities, representatives of which live in our country, including Azerbaijanis, felt themselves well. I would like to assure You that there is no problem with the Azerbaijani community in Ukraine. It has integrated to the society, but can speak in the native language, there are Sunday schools for children, if there is necessity, will be set up state schools either.

We consider that Azerbaijanis of Ukraine are very industrious and law observing. There are numerous figures, but on behalf of the government, I would say that the number of Azerbaijanis has no particular significance for us. However, in 2001 45 thousand Azerbaijanis wanted to become Ukraine citizen, today this figure increased. But who wants to work or engage in business, maintaining citizenship of Azerbaijan, they have no nay problems. But there were not facts when we deported somebody. Chairman of the Congress of Azerbaijanis will surely confirm it.

I would like to bring two examples, which we were deeply impressed, and I will tell it everywhere. We today were at pray at the Orthodox Church, where were surprised that the temple destroyed during the soviet time, was restored by a Moslem in faith and Azerbaijani in nationality in account of his personal means. Unfortunately, he died, and the clergyman could not receive us because left for Moscow to funerals. Portrait of this man and mass of candles spoke of the fact that he indeed, made a worthy contribution. Secondly, what impressed on us was, being at the Slavonic University, we saw that the Azerbaijanis learn Ukrainian language and sing Ukraine songs, speak in Ukrainian language and possible, better than some Ukrainians. This speaks that Ukrainians here feel at home, there was no a single remark. We have been in many countries, for we are engaged in the problem of national minorities, set up links with our compatriots. The Ukrainians always differ with their loyalty to the existing power, you cannot see then among the opposition, them, who destabilize situation in the country. They always try to cooperate with the power, work as the citizen of that country. Just that country gave him shelter, work, education, and therefore, he has to serve this country, not forget, of course, on his culture and traditions.

I would like to thank You once again for the support which You and Your father rendered the Ukraine community in Azerbaijan”.

Ilham Aliyev: “Thank you for sincere words. It was pleased to hear it. You completely rightly noted those two examples, albeit there are many such examples. The Russian Orthodox Church was restored on money of an Azerbaijani, Aydin Gurbanov, who, unfortunately, untimely died. We knew him well, and when he initiated this, we all – President Heydar Aliyev and others backed him. There was a ceremony of opening. Of course, it is a holy step, and this evidences that in our country, our people there is national and religious tolerance. This is our distinctive feature, our richness. And as to the fact that in the Slavonic University were sung Ukraine songs, there is nothing surprise. First, the songs are very good, and secondly, there is great interest in your culture. And that many Azerbaijanis wish to receive Ukrainian citizenship, is positive moment, which brings us closer, enriches our countries, our peoples. Azerbaijan, as Ukraine, is a multinational country. This is a positive factor. Just in the world, there are also mono-national countries. It happens because in these countries the national minorities feel them not comfortably. But Azerbaijan is a country where everybody feels at home. Historically, and I would say last times also, as a result of economic reforms, attraction of foreign investments, there appeared a great number of citizens from the far abroad in our country. Here, several thousands citizens of the foreign countries live and feel remarkable. This is indication of development and level, state of things in the society. Therefore, the policy that pursued by our President along the decade will be certainly continued and strengthened. Every citizen of Azerbaijan irrespective of his nationality, faith and language should feel himself equally protected, as Azerbaijani. This also brings closer the countries. We know that there is such an attitude in Ukraine towards other nationalities. I think that this is great luggage, our achievement, which we should jointly strengthen and develop”.

Gennadiy Moskal: Mr. President, taking the opportunity, I want to say that in morning we laid flowers on the Memorial complex, and among them, who fell in 1990, was Ukrainian national. He died for establishment of independence and statehood of Azerbaijan.

Between our Presidents, governments and Parliaments there were always friendly relations. We had no and will have no any problems. We ask You to support the cause of development of bilateral relations”.

Ilham Aliyev: “When I met with Leonid Danilovich in Yalta, we both talk warmly and friendly. Then, after several times, we met again in New York, at the session of General Assembly. I assured him that with our country these relations would be continued.

In Azerbaijan, there happened change of Presidents, but not change of policy. This is the main. They will remain unchanged in the relations with our neighbors either, including with your country”.

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At the reception, also participating was state adviser on the issues of national policy Hidayat Orujov, chairman of state committee on work with Azerbaijanis residing abroad, Nazim Ibrahimov, ambassador of Ukraine to Azerbaijan Boris Aleksenko.