Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva has been presented with Key to Life award in New York

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder of the International Dialogue for Environmental Action, IDEA, Leyla Aliyeva is on a visit to New York at the invitation of the US-based Children’s Cancer and Blood Fund.

At an annual charity meeting of the Fund held in Plaza hotel on 1 November, Leyla Aliyeva was presented with Key to Life award for active participation in humanitarian projects related to children.

CCBF Chair Les Lieberman introduced Leyla Aliyeva to meeting participants noting that Mrs. Aliyeva takes active measures in social, youth, environmental protection and other important areas and makes efforts to improve lives of orphan children not only in Azerbaijan, but also across the world.

'Moreover, she is Vice President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the largest and leading NGO in her country which implements a number of important education and charity projects. Mrs. Aliyeva is also founder of the International Dialogue for Environmental Action, IDEA, founder and editor-in-chief of Baku magazine. She has been conferred on a number of awards so far for contribution to promoting international relations. Today CCBF is honored to present Key to Life award to Leyla Aliyeva for her tireless work to help the needy children around the world.'

The award was presented to Leyla Aliyeva under the applause of the meeting participants.

Thanking for the award, Leyla Aliyeva said:

'Ladies and gentlemen!

I am very pleased to be here and honored to receive this award. However, I accept Key to Life awards on behalf of all young people living in my country. Today Azerbaijani youth live in freedom and understand responsibility behind this freedom. They are aware that our greatest responsibility is to take care of each other. The door to a life lies exactly in this – in your farsightedness, experience and kindness. The work done by CCBF encourages all of us.

You demonstrated the true sense of sharing your experience. You share not only your funds, but also your love, care and hope. I witnessed the great work you do when I visited hematology-oncology department yesterday. This work is supported by efforts of each individual who participates in this charity event.

I have also witnessed some cases of disease in my country. The organization I represent – the Heydar Aliyev Foundation - works to prevent these diseases not only in Azerbaijan, but also throughout the world. We opened the largest thalassemia center in the region in 2007 as part of our Life without Thalassemia initiative. The patients receive free-of-charge treatment in this center supplied with the latest technologies.

The center also conducts blood transfers and blood drives in various districts across the country constantly and provides children aged under 14 years who suffer from diabetes with free insulin and inoculation. When you see a child whose life hangs by a thread, you understand what is important in life. What can be more important than this if we can save these lives? Your job is to save these lives exactly.'