PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV ATTENDS OFFICIAL OPENING OF MOSCOW STATE UNIVESITY`S BAKU BRANCH

Baku, 27 February (AzerTAc). President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva have today participated in the inauguration of the Baku branch of the Moscow State University named after M.V Lomonosov.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Head of the Presidential Administration of
the Russian Federation Sergey Naryshkin.
The MSU branch was established by the executive order signed President Ilham Aliyev
on January 15, 2008.
The branch has three departments including philology, chemistry and applied
mathematics.
The education process here is based on MSU`s programs. Classes will be taught here
by MSU`s teaching staff.
President Ilham Aliyev was welcomed here by rector of the Moscow State University
Viktor Sadovnichiy and rector of the MSU Baku branch Nargiz Pashayeva.
Addressing the teachers and students, President Ilham Aliyev said:
“I cordially congratulate you on the official opening of the MSU. It is a great
event in our country`s life indeed. I am very glad that this building has been
repaired well to meet all modern standards. Of course, the main point is that
education here will be in line with MSU`s standards. It is the main thing. We are
very glad that MSU professors, teachers come here to teach classes. It is a good
event from all points of view – in terms of education, bilateral relations between
our countries. I am very delighted that another higher educational institution,
which I hope will be one of the leading ones, appeared in Azerbaijan.
We, of course, wanted to begin this process quickly, that is why, we used the
existing building. However, these are two completely different buildings in terms of
its present and previous state. However, we need to think about construction of the
separate building in the future. I am glad that head of the Russian President`s
Administration Sergey Yevgeniyevich Narishkin, MSU rector Viktor Antonovich
Sadovnichiy, ministers of education, energy and other guests are present at this
event together with us. It is a good sign of Russian and Azerbaijani leadership`s
attitude and attention towards MSU`s starting its work in Baku”

Head of the Russian President`s Administration Sergey Narishkin said: “Thank you
very much for good words. For my part, I want to convey to you warm greetings of
President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Anatoliyevich Medvedev. Today, together
with Ilham Heydarovich, we are solemnly opening the branch of the Moscow State
University. It is a really momentous event for both Azerbaijan and Russia. One might
say, it is a momentous and important event for the whole CIS, notably over
designating 2009 the Year of Youth in the CIS. Opening of MSU branch is, to a
certain extent, related to the Year of Youth.
I must deeply thank You, Ilham Heydarovich, for your support and continual
attention. In my opinion, it played a decisive role in establishment and opening of
the university branch.
It is good that philology is taught in the university. Russian language is also an
element of the forward-looking policy of Azerbaijani leadership. As a whole,
Azerbaijan pays a special attention to the Russian language. And, of course,
traditionally strong scientific disciplines are taught here – chemistry,
mathematics. These are the fields of science and education Russian and Azerbaijani
scientists, teachers have always had leading positions in. We can say that branch of
the Moscow State University in Azerbaijan, Baku is the next bridge in the strategic
partnership between the two countries. I am sure it is a bridge to our common good
and bright future.
I sincerely congratulate all of you. I wish students good grades, and teachers
clever, attentive and beautiful students”

Rector of the Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichiy thanked President Ilham
Aliyev for opening the MSU branch in Baku.
“Moscow University highly appreciates your efforts, your feat in the name of
education. Best professors of the Moscow University come here with great pleasure,
they want to come. There is a line of those who want to come here to teach. Ilham
Heydarovich, thank you very much. It is a great event in the history of our
relations,” Sadovnichiy said.

Rector of the Baku Branch of the Moscow University Nargiz Pashayeva, in her turn,
thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Russian leadership for the support
in establishment of the branch.
“Thanks to personal support of our President, the idea of establishing the branch
was realized. On behalf of the branch`s administration, on behalf of the whole
staff, I would like to thank the Russian government led by President Dmitry
Medvedev,” Pashayeva said.
She also expressed gratitude to the teaching staff of the Moscow University.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Ilham Aliyev said, “we want to provide our
students with high-quality education, and MSU is the most leading Russian higher
educational institution. This idea came during the conversation. I am very glad that
we promptly presented this proposal to the leadership of Russia and the decision was
made quickly. I want to say sincerely that this issue was discussed during all my
meetings with the Russian leadership. It became another evidence of level of
relations between our countries and humanitarian cooperation, which is the basis for
cooperation in all other spheres.”

“MSU honorary doctor title has been bestowed upon me recently, and Viktor Antonovich
presented me with the diploma conferring the title on me. Therefore, it is one of
the reasons why I will try that the state will always support the university and
make everything possible to make the level of education here the same as in Moscow,”
President added.
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