On May 17, Svetlana Medvedev met with Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.
On May 17, Svetlana Medvedev met with Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. Mehriban Aliyeva came to Moscow to attend a concert dedicated to Azerbaijan held at the State Kremlin Palace.
The Russian first lady congratulated her Azerbaijani counterpart on the republic’s victory in the Eurovision 2011 song contest. Mrs Medvedev pointed out that the Azerbaijani duet’s success reflected the high level of musical culture in Azerbaijan and a growing international interest in the country. Mehriban Aliyeva thanked the Russian viewers who voted for the Azerbaijani singers at Eurovision. “We are very grateful to Russia for the first twelve points we received,” the Azerbaijani first lady said.
During their conversation, Svetlana Medvedev highlighted the efforts of the Azerbaijani government in ensuring comfortable living conditions for some 130,000 Russians living in the republic. The Russian first lady also thanked the Azerbaijani delegation for the fact that Russian-language education was available in Azerbaijan.
Svetlana Medvedev invited Mrs Aliyeva to the Kremlin's Assumption Belfry, which hosted an exhibition titled Carl Fabergé and the Masters of Stone Carving. Russian Masterpieces of Semi-Precious Stones.
Accompanied by Yelena Gagarina (left), the head of the Moscow Kremlin museum, the two first ladies toured the exhibition featuring masterpieces by Carl Fabergé, a prominent Russian jeweler, and his contemporaries employed by the Imperial Court, as well as works by Urals handcrafters and those from the Imperial, Yekaterinburg, Peterhof, and Kolyvan lapidary factories.
After the tour, Mehriban Aliyeva made an entry in the esteemed visitors’ book.
Mrs Aliyeva then gave Mrs Medvedev a tour of the photo exhibition at the State Kremlin Palace dedicated to Azerbaijan and showed her a collection of unique Azerbaijani rugs.
Svetlana Medvedev and Mehriban Aliyeva shortly before their visit to the exhibition of Azerbaijani rugs and copper smithy crafts at the State Kremlin Palace.
Russian and Azerbaijani First Ladies Svetlana Medvedev and Mehriban Aliyeva during the concert dedicated to Azerbaijan held at the State Kremlin Palace. On the left: Russian presidential aide Dzhakhan Pollyeva.
