Baku: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday began an official visit to Azerbaijan.
Shaikh Mohammad visited the monument of the late president Heidar Aliyev, who is known as the ‘Father of the Azeri Nation’, in Baku, on Wednesday evening and laid a wreath on his tomb in the Honorary Cemetery, which includes the tombs of more than 500 prominent figures who participated in war against fascism in the Second World War.
He also visited the Eternal Flame monument in the cemetery and laid a wreath on the monument as a military orchestra of the Defence Ministry played the UAE and Azerbaijan national anthems.
Shaikh Mohammad was briefed by Hajibala Abutalybov, Mayor of Baku, about the history of the Eternal Flame monument, which was constructed to commemorate the martyrs of the black January events, which took place on January 20, 1990, and are marked in the modern history of Azerbaijan as one of the most tragic and heroic episodes of the country.
Shaikh Mohammad praised the rich history of the Azeri people and lauded the wise leadership of President Ilham Aliyev who is leading a comprehensive process of development to achieve the well-being of his people.
Earlier in the day, Shaikh Mohammad arrived in Baku on a state visit to Azerbaijan. He is leading a high-profile delegation that includes Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group; Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy; Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State; and other senior officials.
