IT IS HER CHOICE

"History has defined a place and mission for everyone in life. There are neither great nor small roles. Only by taking responsibility for yourself do you give yourself the chance to write the book of your life, in which everyone proves to be a creator or destroyer of him/herself and the world. To be who you are is our life. Consequently, it is not necessary to adopt the roles and images of others. Both you and your place in the world are incomparable and unique."

These words belong to a person whose place and role in the world really are unique - the first lady of Azerbaijan, member of the Milli Majlis (parliament), president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, president of the Friends of Azerbaijani Culture Foundation, president of the Gymnastics Federation of Azerbaijan, goodwill ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, Doctor of Philosophy, mother of three children and, finally, grandmother of two grandsons - Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva.

The listing of these titles isn't a simple formality. Behind each of them stand services to Azerbaijan, the Turkic and Muslim world, and even to all mankind. Today she is a close friend of many of us. And as loyal friends, we couldn't forget her birthday - 26 August.

Can one embrace the boundless? Bestow care and attention on all who really need it? It is hard, but the first lady of Azerbaijan does it with love and simplicity and, most importantly, to great effect. At the same time, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva conducts a wide-range of activities to promote a positive image of her native Azerbaijan. Frankly speaking, one cannot but be surprised by her tireless capacity for work, her constant interest in the destinies of associates and her ability to think in detail and at the same time within the widest frames.

While solving crucial problems as the head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, she meets many officials. Mehriban Aliyeva takes part in the resolution of many domestic and international issues as someone of internationally-recognised authority. At the same time, she communicates with ordinary citizens with great pleasure, showing a readiness to listen, taking all personal requests to heart. After all, behind each humanitarian problem stands a separate and, in its own way, universal human tragedy!

It is very difficult to encompass all the spheres in which Mehriban Aliyeva is engaged today. Azerbaijan's first lady has taken under her wing the building of modern schools equipped to world standards, cultural and sports facilities across the country and the development of public health service institutions, in particular those supporting sick children and the disabled.

Mehriban Aliyeva's biography is well-known, but we should mention once again that the future first lady of Azerbaijan was born into a creative family of scientists. Her father, Arif Pashayev, the son of writer and literary critic Mir Calal Pashayev, is the rector of the Baku National Aviation Academy; and her mother - Aida Imanquliyeva, the daughter of outstanding Azerbaijani journalist Nasir Imanguliev, was a well-known philologist and arabist. Меhriban was a perfect student and finished school No 23 in Baku with a gold medal in 1982.

Several months later, she entered the Azerbaijan Medical University and then continued her studies at the I. M. Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy, from which she graduated with distinction in 1988. She was still a student when, in 1983, she married Ilham Aliyev and became a member of the family of the pre-eminent Heydar Aliyev. Of course, the atmosphere which Heydar Aliyev created around himself also helped Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva to become a personality actively engaged in public and charity activities.

In 1995 Mehriban Aliyeva established the welfare foundation Friends of Azerbaijani Culture. In 2002 she headed the Gymnastics Federation of Azerbaijan. Mrs. Aliyeva's personality and authority played such dominant roles that the International Gymnastics Federation twice decided to hold the World Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics (2003 and 2004), as well as the World championship in 2005, in the capital of Azerbaijan.

It is difficult to list all that has been done by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation under Mehriban Aliyeva's leadership since its creation - on 10 May 2004. And today the glory of these activities resonates far beyond Azerbaijan's borders. The work to revive a phenomenon of national art - mugham, which had almost been forgotten, is uniquely the result of Mehriban Aliyeva's efforts.

International festivals in which Azerbaijani masters perform are regular events and the number of connoisseurs of the art is increasing around the world. Unique records are duplicated in modern format and research works are published.

Finally, the Mugham Centre in Baku, which was constructed at the initiative of Mrs. Aliyeva, is in full operation. This productive work could not go unnoticed - in August 2004, for her efforts to preserve and develop oral national creativity and the musical heritage of Azerbaijan, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the honorary title of goodwill ambassador of UNESCO.

She has many times been awarded the title of Woman of the Year as a result of opinion polls. She became the holder of an International Caspian Energy Integration Award in the category Public Figure of the Year in the Caspian-Black Sea Region and, in November 2006, she was also awarded the title of Goodwill Ambassador of ISESCO.

Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded a World Health Organization (WHO) prize for her exclusive merits in the protection and strengthening the health of the family, mother and children; in 2007 she became the first recipient of the Russian Golden Heart award for large-scale charity work; in 2009 she was awarded the Commander Grand Cross Medal of Poland.

And, not long ago, by order of the President of the French Republic, the first lady of Azerbaijan was awarded the Legion of Honour - officer class. We should note that this honour, awarded to internationally-known politicians, statesmen, art workers and scientists, was founded in 1802 by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The Legion of Honour, the highest state award in France, has five classes.

Permission to make this award is given by the authoritative 11-man Award Commission after studying information on persons proposed for awards. The Legion of Honour - officer class, awarded to persons having special merit for the French Republic and its people, has been presented to many of the world's outstanding people. Making this award to the first lady of Azerbaijan once again confirms that Mehriban Aliyeva's contribution to the development of education and culture has won respect and esteem, not only in Azerbaijan, but also internationally.

The world's media does not cease to stress that the first lady of Azerbaijan is a genuine eastern beauty - the embodiment of elegance and intelligence. At the same time, one should not forget that Mehriban Aliyeva is the spouse of the president, a mother and grandmother, and she bears with honour all these responsible heartfelt 'titles'.

What is it to be the wife of the president, combining both public and family missions? Mehriban Aliyeva answered this question in an interview with the Izvestiya newspaper.

- In short … it is a great responsibility, Mrs. Aliyeva said. When I became the spouse of the president of the country, life in general did not change. Since childhood I have been in an environment with elements of publicity. If we consider that I was a first-year student when I became a member of the Heydar Aliyev family, it is obvious that over twenty years a number of factors generated a certain type of behaviour. So it is difficult for me to say that there were any especially significant changes. Something has changed - something inside me.

My life's credo has always been in no way to advertise the good that you try to do. Now that is almost impossible. In the status of first lady, I cannot allow myself to carry out any charitable activity beyond public view. It is not so much that it is a burden for me but, nevertheless, it adds some nuances to my life, which I have to accept. As to a non-public person, this comes with some difficulty.

- And what do your children think of it?

- In different ways. Heydar probably does not notice it. For him, irrespective of anything, his parents are the most important people, and there cannot be anyone stronger, cleverer and kinder than them. And the girls are already adults and, it seems to me, they bear the burden of responsibility properly.

- What about freedom of speech in your family? Is there an "opposition" there?

- The family is first of all a union of like-minded persons. They are people - a man and a woman - with similar principles of life and moral values. I and Ilham share a lot in common. We grew up in approximately similar environments. This was the Azerbaijani intelligentsia - which, despite the complexities of the last century, held to its ideals, cultural values and national traditions. It is my good luck to have such roots.

The wife, even if she is the wife of the president is, first of all, a woman; she is the guarantor of peace, harmony and love in a family. For me, it is very important that the spouse, after an improbably busy and tense working day, comes to a home where he is understood and supported, where he is appreciated and loved.

- Do you manage this?

- You should ask Ilham whether or not I manage this.

Here is how Mrs. Aliyeva answered the question "Could you could engage in politics like other women?"

- Certainly, great possibilities could arise. But it all depends on the individual. If political activity appeals to you, then your start will be guaranteed. I am not in politics, I simply help people. If you consider it politics, please do so. Often, when the talk is of politics, it is associated with the fact that someone begins to aspire to power. I am not a person of authority and don't aspire to power. It is not for me.

As a goodwill ambassador for UNESCO and as the president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, I feel needed. I receive over 200 letters on a daily basis. None of them remains unanswered. I want to do practical work, to help real people, to solve concrete problems. It is a pleasure to see if it is possible to help, and to be upset because it isn't possible to do something due to circumstances beyond your control. To suffer, realizing sometimes one's powerlessness before fate, and to rejoice, seeing the smile of a rescued child. It is my choice.

… "At times a person gets to a situation when all doors are closed and he remains alone with his trouble, his problem. And it seems to him that nothing, nobody can help. In that case, he looks to our foundation. I don't want to say that we can solve all problems within an hour. But a person will meet neither indifference nor a cold response here, and all possible means will be used for the resolution of his/her problem. Virtue, philanthropy and mercy are fine qualities, probably peculiar to the mentality of the Azerbaijani people, to traditions formed over centuries. And we, as the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, aspire to continue these traditions".

The Almighty always rewards kindness, belief and the truth, and anyone who has the opportunity to help his/her people, is allowed to do so. The first lady of Azerbaijan does this indefatigably. With honour - with dignity, elegance and intelligence.