POLITICS
AWARDING CEREMONY IN RUSSIAN EMBASSY
A ceremony of awarding state and public figures of Azerbaijan, Defenders of Leningrad, residents of the blockaded city, with the medal ‘In Memory of 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg’, was held in the Embassy of Russia to Azerbaijan on July 15. Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Russia Nikolay Ryabov noted addressing the ceremony that Baku had become the only CIS capital to solemnly celebrate the 300th anniversary of the northern capital of Russia – Saint Petersburg. Amongst the recipients of the memorable medal, the Ambassador, first of all, mentioned President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. According to him, this award is expected to be presented to the head of Azerbaijan state by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, who is going to visit Azerbaijan as soon as possible. After that, the awarding ceremony started. Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade expressing his gratitude for the medal stressed the new trends appeared in relationship between the two states following election of Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia, and reciprocal official visits by the heads of states. The memorable medal was also presented to the head of the executive power of Baku city Hajibala Abutalibov, rector of Baku Slavonic University Kamal Abdullayev, and employees of Russian Embassy. Deputy head of Azerbaijan Diaspora of Saint Petersburg Ismayil Rahimov announced that the Diaspora had assigned funds for Azerbaijani citizens – Defenders of Leningrad and residents suffered blockade, to take a vacation in one of the recreation areas of Nabran. Then, publicist Elmira Akhundova asked representatives of Saint Petersburg’s Administration to hand her books dedicated to the new stage of Russian-Azerbaijani relations over to Azerbaijani Diaspora and libraries in the City on Neva.