President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in Turkiye for a working visit at the invitation of President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A guard of honor was lined up for the head of state at Konya Airport decorated with the national flags of the two countries.
President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were met by Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Mehmet Kasapoglu, Governor of Konya Vahdettin Ozkan and other officials.
The head of state saluted the guard of honor.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have met with athletes representing the country at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games in the city of Konya, Turkiye.
Addressing the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said:
- Dear athletes, dear friends.
I just landed in Konya and immediately came here from the airport to meet with you. It is a tradition. Every time on the eve of prestigious international competitions, I meet with athletes and have a conversation with them. This time is no exception.
This time you will represent Azerbaijan at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games. I am sure that you will represent our country with dignity because our athletes have already confirmed their strength in all international competitions. Today, Azerbaijan is recognized as a strong sports nation in the world, and our victories in the Olympic Games, as well as in world and European championships, have already become commonplace. Azerbaijani fans have got somewhat accustomed to that. I am sure that our athletes will show good results this time as well. We already have our first gold medal. I want to congratulate the team on this occasion. The official opening ceremony of the Games is today, but the Games are already underway. I am sure that this great result will provide a great incentive for the rest of other athletes.
This time, after Baku, these Games are being held in Konya, in a fraternal country for us. I am sure you feel at home here. Of course, the fact that these Games are being held in Turkiye creates additional opportunities for us. Of course, we are very glad that these Games are being held in brotherly Turkiye. I am sure that these Games will be remembered both as a celebration of sports and a holiday of Islamic solidarity. In the Islamic Solidarity Games held in Baku five years ago, our team showed a very good result and finished first in team standings. At the same time, the Games in Baku gave an impetus to the strengthening of Islamic solidarity because athletes from Muslim countries were close contact with each other for some time. I am sure that you will make new friends here as well. These Games are both a sports competition and a factor that strengthens unity, solidarity and friendship among Muslim countries.
I should also mention that for the first time Azerbaijani athletes will be representing a victorious country at the Islamic Solidarity Games. It is a matter of great pride for all of us. After all, we will take part in these Games as representatives of a victorious people and a victorious country. Victory achieved on the battlefields will be reflected in sports competitions.
In conclusion, dear athletes, I salute you from the bottom of my heart and wish you the best of luck. I am sure that, as always, you will hold the sports flag of Azerbaijan and our sports glory high and return to the Motherland with victory and success. Congratulations!
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Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov said:
- Dear Mr. President.
Dear Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva.
On behalf of the delegation, let me welcome you to the Athletes' Village. We would like to thank you for your continued support. By your order, all conditions have been created for the athletes and our team is ready. As you mentioned, we have already won our first medal. Hanna Skydan won gold yesterday.
Wrestler Rafig Huseynov: Dear Mr. President, dear Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva. Let me greet you on behalf of my teammates and on my own behalf. Thank you very much for your valuable time and interest in us. I am sure that meeting with you will give us additional motivation and have a very positive impact on our performance. I am glad that Mr. President is personally interested in us. Thank you.
President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.
Shooter Rigina Meftahatdinova: Mr. President and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, hello. I grew up in a family of athletes. I am the daughter of Olympic champion Zemfira Meftahatdinova. I am also in this sport. I am very proud that you always pay attention to us. Thank you very much.
President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. I wish you the best of luck.
Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva: Hanna Skydan won a gold medal.
President Ilham Aliyev: Gold medal, congratulations!
Hanna Skydan: Thank you!
Mehriban Aliyeva: Congratulations, we are proud of you!
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A picture was taken.
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Cyclist Elchin Asadov: Mr. President, I am Elchin Asadov. I am the winner of the international cycling competition in Shusha. I am very proud. We are proud of the “iron fist”. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.
Paralympian: Thank God, all conditions have been created for us. As a former war veteran, we will raise our flag here Inshallah.
President Ilham Aliyev: Inshallah. Our Paralympians also showed good results in the Paralympic Games.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Prime Minister of the State of Palestine Mohammad Shtayyeh in Konya.
Mohammad Shtayyeh conveyed President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas`s greetings to President Ilham Aliyev.
The head of state thanked for Mahmoud Abbas`s greetings, and asked the Prime Minister to extend his greetings to the Palestinian President.
Mohammad Shtayyeh expressed gratitude to the head of state for Azerbaijan`s solidarity with, and support and humanitarian aid to Palestine. Saying that the bilateral relations are developing successfully in various areas, the Prime Minister hailed mutual support as part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement. The Palestinian Prime Minister congratulated the head of state on Azerbaijan`s achievements in all fields. Mohammad Shtayyeh raised the issue of the opening of Azerbaijan's Embassy in Palestine.
Expressing his gratitude for the warm words, President Ilham Aliyev noted that the people of Azerbaijan stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Recalling the visit of President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas to Azerbaijan and his contacts with him, President Ilham Aliyev stressed the importance of expanding cooperation in political, economic, educational, cultural and sports fields.
Touching upon the study of Palestinian students in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that grants were allocated to them by the state, adding Azerbaijan is ready to increase these grants.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar in Konya.
During the meeting, the sides emphasized the importance of holding the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games, which serves to strengthen relations between peoples in the Turkic world, in Turkiye. They noted that this prestigious international sports event was excellently organized in Baku.
During the conversation, the sides touched upon the importance of expanding relations, based on the historical bonds between the peoples of the Turkic world, in the humanitarian, cultural, educational and sports fields.
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First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva have visited the Mevlana Museum in the Turkish city of Konya.
Director of Konya City Culture and Tourism Department Abdulsattar Yarar informed First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva of the Museum.
The Museum, dedicated to 13th-century Muslim mystic poet Mevlana Jalaluddin al-Rumi, has been operating since 1926 as the building complex. It is also known as “Mevlana Tomb”. Mevlana’s tomb, called the Green Dome, was made on four thick columns.
The sides then exchanged keepsakes.
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A dinner has been hosted in honor of the heads of state, government and delegations participating in the opening ceremony of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games in the city of Konya, Turkiye.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the dinner.
President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and other officials.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with the heads of state, government and delegations.
Speaking at the ceremony, President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the heads of state and government and heads of delegations, and said: “I am very pleased to be together with you around this fraternal table on the occasion of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games. You are all welcome to Konya, the city of Hazrat Mevlana. Let me also welcome all athletes and teams participating in the Games from different regions of the Islamic world.
The previous Islamic Solidarity Games were held in Azerbaijan in 2017. The Games were hosted by my dear brother, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. Our Azerbaijani brothers hosted the Games very successfully in all respects.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the 5th Islamic Games were being held following the easing of restrictions related to the pandemic, and emphasized the great interest in the Games. Noting that tensions and economic difficulties in the world, as well as the discrimination against Muslims in all areas, were the cause of a serious concern, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his confidence that the messages of brotherhood to be communicated to the whole world from Konya would contribute to the prevention of this discrimination.
The President of Turkiye wished all teams and athletes the best of luck.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan have held a meeting in the city of Konya.
President Ilham Aliyev thanked President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the invitation to the opening ceremony of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games.
The Turkish President, in turn, expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for accepting the invitation and participating in the event.
The Azerbaijani President also congratulated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the excellent organization of the Islamic Solidarity Games.
During the conversation, they hailed the successful development of the relations of friendship, brotherhood and alliance between the two countries in all areas.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again expressed Turkiye`s support in connection with the recent events in Karabakh and offered condolences to President Ilham Aliyev regarding the martyrs.
The head of state thanked for the support and condolences.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the post-conflict period in the region, and discussed cooperation in economic, energy, transport and military fields.
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A solemn opening ceremony of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games has been held in the Turkish city of Konya.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the ceremony.
The aerobatics flights of “Turkish Stars” over the Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium, where the opening ceremony was held, produced a wonderful impression on the audience.
Then Maher Zain, a Swedish singer of Lebanese origin, performed with a concert program. Drone and light effects added a special color to the ceremony.
Then verses from the holy Quran-Karim were read out.
The audience of the remarkable event gave a round of applause for President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and other heads of state and government as they entered the arena.
President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a short conversation with First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva.
Dancers who appeared first on the stage created the logo of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games. The logo in the shape of a tulip symbolizing number 21 was designed specifically for the Games. The logo also includes the word "أ خ", which means “brother” in Arabic.
A composition describing different periods of Turkish history and cultural riches was demonstrated during the ceremony. At the end of the composition, the Turkish flag and the moon-star figure were projected onto the stage using light effects. Then the military brought out the State Flag of Turkiye. The flag was raised to the sounds of the National Anthem of Turkiye – the Independence March.
After the raising of the flag, the ceremony featured a parade of volunteers and teams participating in the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games “Konya 2021”.
Azerbaijani athletes were the fourth to enter the arena.
President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva warmly welcomed the members of Azerbaijani team.
During the ceremony, the tricolor flag of Azerbaijan was carried by athlete Nazim Babayev and volleyball player Ayshan Abdulazimova.
Nazim Babayev is the European champion, winner of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, double winner of the Winter Universiade and bronze medalist of the Summer Youth Olympic Games. Ayshan Abdulazimova is the captain of Azerbaijan women’s national volleyball team, winner of the Challenge Cup, the Golden Europe league and the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games.
A total of 281 athletes represent Azerbaijan in the Islamic Solidarity Games. They will compete in weightlifting, shooting, athletics, 3x3 basketball (women and men), judo, football, wrestling, gymnastics, aerobics, rhythmic gymnastics, handball (women and men), karate, kickboxing, fencing, archery, para-archery, para-athletics, para-swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, cycling, volleyball (women and men) and swimming.
More than 4,000 athletes from 56 countries will compete for 483 sets of medals in 24 sports at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games, which are scheduled to last until 18 August.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has ended his working visit to the Republic of Turkiye.
A guard of honor was lined up for the head of state at Konya Airport decorated with the national flags of the two countries.
The head of state saluted the guard of honor.
President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were seen off by Governor of Konya Vahdettin Ozkan and other officials.
