Direct involvement in the development of modern and independent Azerbaijan, solution of social issues, adherence to the ideas of mercy and morality, a constant desire to extend a helping hand and to do good.

All these form the backbone of the life philosophy of the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva. Working side by side with President Ilham Aliyev, his life companion and closest ally Mehriban Aliyeva is making a great contribution to the dynamic development of the country.

For 16 years, Mehriban Aliyeva has honorably carried out the mission of the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Being at the same time the Goodwill Ambassador of ISESCO, she is tirelessly involved in activities to inform the world public about the historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, the realities of the country. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes Icherisheher with its Palace of Shirvanshahs and Maiden’s Tower, the rock paintings of Gobustan, and the Palace of Sheki Khans along with the historical center of Sheki. The UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage also includes mugham and the ashug art – the masterpieces of our musical treasury, the production and the art of performing on the stringed musical instrument kamancha, the heritage of the Dada Gorgud epic, and the art of the Azerbaijani headscarf kalagayi.

Mehriban Aliyeva’s appointment as First Vice-President of Azerbaijan on 21 February 2017 is regarded as the logical outcome of her substantive activities and organizational skills. Over the past period, she has fully justified the President’s and the people’s confidence in her with the work she has carried out in this senior and responsible position.

Consistent and focused work is under way on the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva to communicate the truth about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, our culture, history and traditions of statehood to the international community. Exhibitions, days of culture and other events are organized in reputable international organizations and various countries around the world. As an example of this, we can mention the holding of days of Azerbaijani culture at the headquarters of the European Parliament, in Athens, in Cannes, the opening of the Center of Azerbaijani Culture in Paris, the erection of monuments to outstanding personalities of our people in various cities of the world.

People love and believe in her, as due to Mehriban Aliyeva, traditions of charity and sponsorship have been revitalized in the social life of the society. Mehriban Aliyeva has cultivated in people such feelings and capacities as trying to do good, compassion, tending to reach out a helping hand to those who are in need. She has destroyed the deep-rooted idea in the public’s conscience that all social issues should be resolved exclusively by the state, and she made sure that all strata of the society try to participate in their solution. Taking, thereby, care of the contemporary Azerbaijani society, Mehriban Aliyeva supported the President of Azerbaijan in his work on taking care of the country’s future, having become an innovator in the sphere of securing employment and involving the talented youth in essential projects.

Mehriban Aliyeva’s distinguished taste may be felt also in the changing view of the city of Baku. Thanks to her instructions, Eastern and Western style architecture are blending, keeping, at the same time, the historic view of the forever young capital.
Azerbaijan is a place where, for centuries, representatives of different religions, ethnic groups have lived, created, communicated. Tolerance and multiculturalism in secular Azerbaijan is a style of life for over 10 million people living at the crossroad of the East and West and combining traditions and cultures. We have to highlight the humanitarian and charity projects carried out by Azerbaijan in various parts of the world. According to the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva, we can emphasize renovation and restoration of historical and architectural monuments in different countries. Azerbaijan has implemented various humanitarian and charity projects in different parts of the world.
The multifaceted charity activities of Mehriban Aliyeva are highly appreciated both in Azerbaijan and internationally. The Heydar Aliyev Order, the highest award of the Azerbaijani state, the highest order of the European Olympic Committees, the Order of the Legion of Honor of France, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Italy, Grand Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of Poland, the Order of Friendship of Russia, UNESCO Golden Mozart Medal... And this is not a complete list of awards the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan has received. Mehriban Aliyeva believes that her biggest award is the love, faith and trust of the people.

Every citizen of Azerbaijan is pride of his/her First Lady – a woman who has become a symbol of the contemporary Azerbaijan, a person who has been the personification of good and hope.

Vagif Abdullayev, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor