An awarding and closing ceremony of the second world championship of the intellectual game “What? Where? When?” was held on August 17 in the Grand Hotel Europe in Baku.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took part in the ceremony. The audience greeted Prime Minister by applauds.

According to the tradition, the closing ceremony started with auction, where personal belongings of famous players having been used by them for 25 years, were displayed. However, before, Deputy Director General of the TV Company “Igra”, Andrey Kozlov expressed gratitude to Azerbaijani people for hospitability shown towards the participants of the game. He wished happiness and prosperity to people of the country, and a good health to the President of the country Heydar Aliyev.

Andrey Kozlov announced that last year’s champions of “Brain ring” Balash Kasumov’s team won the Overall Champion Cup this year. He handed in the Challenge Cup to the captain of Azerbaijani team.

Funds from the auction were transferred to the fund of “Atashgakh” team.

A show play of the elite team was held after the championship.

Best players and best spectators were given special prizes of sponsors.

The awarding ceremony of winners was held next. Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, President of the National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev and the President of the International Association of Clubs “What? Where? When?” , Director General of the TV Company “Igra” Natalya Stetzenko delivered prizes - bronze medal to a team from Moscow under leadership of Andrey Kuzmin, silver - to Vladimir Sevrinski’s team, and golden - to the Russian team of “Genius”, winner of World Cup 2002-2003 with its captain Maxim Potashev.

Ilham Liyev handed in the Challenge Cup to the golden winner.

Natalya Stetzenko congratulated the winners of the championship and underlined that Baku will always be in history of this game as a city where world championship of this game was held. She underlined that Azerbaijani teams have good future, as the traditions of intellectual games are strong here.

She expressed gratitude to organizers, the NOC, Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism for welcoming and high organizational level of the competitions. Natalya Stetzenko especially thanked Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev and pointed out that on August 13, the Board of Directors of the International Association of International Association of Clubs decided to award Azerbaijani Prime Minister with a special prize “For support of What? Where? When? Movement”. She delivered this prize and the supreme prize of the club “Crystal Owl”, personifying wisdom to Ilham Aliyev.

Further, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, President of the National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev made a speech:

Dear friends, dear guests,

First of all, let me express gratitude to the board of directors of the “What? Where? When?” club for appraisal of my merits. To tell the truth it is a surprise for me and I am very pleased. I am happy that I managed to contribute to popularization of this game, beloved not only in Azerbaijan, but in other countries as well.

One year ago, I was saying I was thankful to you that you received our invitation to come and present us with a few days of festival. Once more, you have become eyewitnesses, how popular this game and its players are in Azerbaijan. How sincere Bakuvites are towards our guests. I am sure that our sponsors, I express gratitude to them, and people accompanying you, have done their best for making your visit pleasant. You told me that International Association of Clubs is not a federation yet, but I consider that What? Where? When? is so popular in many countries as the most popular sports.

I can state that everyone in Azerbaijan is waiting for this game. All of us are in front of TV sets to watch this series of programs; all of us are fans of this game. Today we are supporting not only well-known and beloved players; today we are supporting our friends. We have become friends.

Here in Azerbaijan, we appreciate friendship very much and hope that our friendship will go on. People are expressing the ideas of next place hosting the championship. Of course, the Board of the Club will take the decision, I must tell, that in our country they appreciate friendship and traditions side by side.

I offer not to break the tradition and to hold the third championship in Baku.

I congratulate all winners; wish a good health, success and happiness to everyone!

Ilham Aliyev announced the second world championship of the intellectual game What? Where? When? closed.

In conclusion, the state anthem of Azerbaijan sounded.

After the ceremony, Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev answered the questions of journalists:

Q: Mr. Aliyev, this championship is being held at your personal imitative. Are you satisfied with the results?

A: Of course, I am. I believe that our initiative has good results. It is for the second time, that the world championship is held in Baku. You see, the interest towards this event is great; the game is great and especially friendly atmosphere. I think, next games will be held in Baku, our people will be pleased.

Q: What about health condition of Mr. President?

A: Good.

Q: You have recently told that Mr. President is to come back within two weeks.

A: Approximately. It is impossible to tell precisely. Doctors say so. Two, maybe, three weeks. Depends on the course of treatment.

Q: Is it possible that President is going to be operated on?

A: No. This issue is not on agenda. This is only conservative, therapeutic treatment and it gives good results.

Q: Mr. Aliyev, presidential election campaign has started. Are you going to visit regions. If you go, what regions are you going to visit first?

A: Of course I am going. For now, I have not determined yet. It goes without saying I am going to visit majority of regions of Azerbaijan. I will go, for sure.

Q: Mr. Prime Minister, in your interview with foreign mass media, you touched upon Nagorno Karabakh issue. It is taken as a kind of your platform, i.e. this is the point of Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev on the issue. Do you guarantee restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? In other words, is Azerbaijan able to achieve this goal?

A: We are trying our best. Our policy is aimed at this result. There are no changes in my point of view. If you pay attention, I have been expressing my views on that openly and clear. Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be fully restored; invaders must liberate the lands of Azerbaijan. Only on this condition, we can start discussing a peace agreement. This is the main principle. We have no intention to refuse these principles. In other words, there are no new views on this issue. Simply, my position in the government is new. That is why you take it in this way.

Q: Mr. Aliyev, peace negotiations have been held for almost 10 years. If you become a President, it will go on like this or the talks will be rounded one day?

A: We still have opportunities. As you know, the OSCE Minsk Group continues its activities. At the same time, the two Presidents meet and will go on meeting in future. Besides, maybe, OSCE will put forward new proposals. The situation may change. World is changing. Very important processes are going on in our region and in neighboring regions for recent two years. Therefore, I believe, peace negotiations should go on. It means that we still have chances. If it is not so, we must use all means. I wished to believe that we would manage to resolve it peacefully.

Q: Mr. Prime Minister. Opposition has started again its protest acts and in addition to all claims, they put forward the demand of resignation. How will you comment on this fact?

A: Do they have something new? Has it something to do with me? How can I appraise it? I just laugh at it. I cannot tell whether they renewed their actions or not. Because opposition’s actions are held in their old way. I know what is their goal. If they think that they frighten someone by their actions, of course they are mistaken. If they believe that they create a social base by these actions, this is not true as well.

Our people know very well about their activities, their past and plan. One should ask them, if you come to power, what are going to do for Azerbaijan. They are intended to ruin Azerbaijan. They do not hide their intentions. They want to terminate the existing situation so that to create social and civil opposition. That is why their actions will not produce any influence. People know what has been done by authorities and what - by opposition. Until now, they have just been insulting and giving unreal promises. That is why I do not have serious attitude towards them. Thank you.

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Minister of Youth, Sport and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev, Minister of Culture Polad Bulbuloglu, Milli Majlis (Parliament) members and other officials were present at the ceremony.