Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Kyrgyzstan has undergone unprecedented political, economic and social transformation under President Sadyr Zhaparov, highlighting the country's growing global profile and strengthening ties with Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani president made the remarks during an award ceremony for the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, which was held on July 31, Caliber.Az reports via state media.
Addressing the event, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov said:
- Dear Ilham Heydarovich,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Modern Azerbaijan is a strong and influential state playing an important role in regional and international affairs. Over the years of your leadership, Azerbaijan has achieved significant success in strengthening its statehood, developing the economy, and implementing large-scale projects. Thanks to your support and unwavering commitment to bringing our nations closer together, our brotherly countries have forged a genuine strategic partnership based on strong bonds of friendship and mutual trust.
Today, our relations have reached a qualitatively new level and have evolved into an alliance. Your role in the development of ties between Central Asia and the South Caucasus is of particular importance. Azerbaijan's participation in the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia opens up new opportunities for expanding cooperation in the trade, economic, transport, and energy spheres. You also consistently use your influence to promote lasting peace, strengthen stability, and create a new atmosphere of cooperation in the region.
Your commitment to strengthening friendship between our countries commands deep respect from the Kyrgyz people. It is for this reason that I decided to award my dear friend and brother, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev, the highest state award of the Kyrgyz Republic—the “Manas” Order.
This high award recognizes your outstanding personal contribution to strengthening Kyrgyz-Azerbaijani relations.
On behalf of the people of the Kyrgyz Republic and on my own behalf, I cordially congratulate you on receiving this high award. I wish you robust health, well-being, and continued success in your state duties, and peace and prosperity to the brotherly people of Azerbaijan.
Dear Ilham Heydarovich, allow me to present you with the “Manas” Order.
Then, the Decree of President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov awarding President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev the 1st Class "Manas" Order for his significant contribution to the development of strategic partnership between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the strengthening of friendship between the peoples of the two countries was read out.
President Sadyr Zhaparov conferred the 1st Class "Manas" Order upon the Azerbaijani leader.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his remarks:
- Dear Sadyr Nurgozhoevich.
Dear friends.
First of all, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this high award. I regard it as your recognition of my activities in strengthening the brotherly ties between Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. Over the years of our cooperation with you, our countries have travelled a very long and glorious
Our good, friendly, and brotherly relations serve as an important factor in the current successful development between our countries. I would also like to thank you sincerely for your kind words, and for this high order, and I want to assure you that in the future, too, I will make every effort to ensure the steady development of Kyrgyz-Azerbaijani relations for the benefit of our countries and peoples.
Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a high award.
Then, the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan awarding President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov the Heydar Aliyev Order in recognition of his special contribution to strengthening the friendly and brotherly ties and partnership between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan was read out.
Speaking at the event, President Ilham Aliyev said: Before presenting this high award, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich, I would like to once again personally congratulate you, your team, and the brotherly people of Kyrgyzstan on the historic achievements that Kyrgyzstan has attained under your leadership. This is not my first visit to Kyrgyzstan, but it is during your presidency that our contacts have become regular. If we count the number of my visits to Kyrgyzstan and the visits of Sadyr Nurgozhoevich to Azerbaijan, there have probably been more than ten.
All of this, however, has taken place since the brotherly people of Kyrgyzstan entrusted you with the high office of President of the Republic. The transformations are visible to everyone. This is evident both to friends and to foreign observers who come and see them. They are impossible not to notice.
Even what we are witnessing today in the Issyk-Kul region would have been impossible to imagine before Sadyr Nurgozhoevich assumed leadership of Kyrgyzstan. Today, this beautiful corner of Kyrgyzstan is undergoing unprecedented development. Never before has the region experienced such rapid development over such a short period of time.
This is your personal achievement, reflecting your commitment to your people, your roots, the rich spiritual values of the Kyrgyz people, and your determination to bring Kyrgyzstan to a new level of development. You have succeeded in doing so. Today, the international prestige of your country is higher than ever, as evidenced by Kyrgyzstan’s election to the highest international body.
Economic and social development, the care you show for the Kyrgyz people, and the reverse flow of migration taking place today—not from Kyrgyzstan abroad, but from abroad to Kyrgyzstan—all of this would have been impossible without your personal involvement, your decisions, and your vision for the future.
I have been to Bishkek many times, and this is not my first visit to the beautiful shores of Issyk-Kul. I can confidently say that progress is taking place throughout the country. The citizens of Kyrgyzstan naturally know this better, and I believe that the universal popular support demonstrated toward you serves as the main outcome of your work and probably the greatest reward. For its part, Azerbaijan highly appreciates your contribution both to the development of Kyrgyzstan and to the strengthening of the brotherly relations between our countries. By my decree, which has just been read out, you have been awarded Azerbaijan's highest order, the Heydar Aliyev Order.
Allow me to present this high award to you.
President Ilham Aliyev then conferred the Heydar Aliyev Order upon President Sadyr Zhaparov.
President Sadyr Zhaparov said: Dear Ilham Heydarovich,
Allow me to express my sincere gratitude for this token of respect and friendship. It is a great honor for me to receive from your hands one of the highest state awards of the Republic of Azerbaijan—the Heydar Aliyev Order.
This award holds special significance for me, as it bears the name of an outstanding statesman and a great son of the Azerbaijani people who laid the foundations of modern Kyrgyz-Azerbaijani relations.
I regard this order as a symbol of the strong ties between our peoples and of our shared commitment to strengthening our strategic partnership and allied relations. Thank you for this meaningful gesture, for your attention to Kyrgyzstan, and for your unwavering commitment to bringing our peoples closer together.
09:32
On July 31, an official ceremony was held to confer state honours on the presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.
According to Caliber.Az, citing the official website of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov awarded Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev the Order of Manas, First Degree. In turn, President Ilham Aliyev awarded President Sadyr Zhaparov the Order of Heydar Aliyev.
