President Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of the Chabad Ohr-Avner education center for 450 Jewish children in Khatai district of Baku.

Those attending the ceremony cordially welcomed President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva.

The head of state cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the facility and was familiarized with the center. President Ilham Aliyev was informed that a plot of land covering 1.5 hectares was allocated for the construction of the center in this picturesque part of the city on the Caspian coast. The center’s educational section comprising 30 classrooms is ready for use. The center’s cafeteria, gym and playground, subject-specific classrooms and computer rooms are fully fitted with modern equipment. The center has an autonomous heating system. There is a center of Jewish history and culture, and a library here. All conditions have been created to ensure that the center functions both as an educational and cultural institution. Mostly local materials were used in the construction. Extensive work on the improvement and gardening has been carried out on the premises as well.

President Ilham Aliyev welcomed the ceremony participants and the center’s staff, and congratulated them on the opening of such a modern educational institution.

The President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS and of the Ohr-Avner Foundation, Lev Leviev, spoke about the attention and care Azerbaijan’s Jews were enjoying and stressed that the republic was an example of tolerance.

During the ceremony, the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP Mehriban Aliyeva was presented with an award for her contribution to the development of tolerance and inter-confessional dialog in Azerbaijan.

In conclusion, a picture was taken.

A video message of Israeli President Shimon Peres over the opening of the educational center was demonstrated at the ceremony. The head of the Israeli state expressed its gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the construction of the school. Shimon Peres described the construction of the center as a major event and said nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are great historic personalities who can see the future. He also thanked all the participants of the event.

The head of state and representatives of Jewish organizations who had arrived in the country to participate in the opening of the center were informed that the difference of the new educational center from other schools is that it provides teaching of the basics of Jewish culture. It is a center with an ethno-cultural component. Students will also learn Hebrew here.

The center has 30 classrooms fitted with modern equipment and necessary teaching aids. The Azerbaijani language classroom has several stands displaying state symbols of the country and the sights of Baku. There is a special stand dedicated to the memory of the great leader.

It was indicated during familiarization with the school that the teachers' room meets the highest standards. The pre-school training department of the center is decorated to suit the taste of kids.

There is an outdoor stadium with an artificial surface covering 700 square meters, where students can engage in sports activities. The campus is well landscaped.

President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the participants of the ceremony – students, teachers, representatives of Jewish communities – on the opening of a new modern school. The President noted that children receiving quality education here will become worthy citizens of Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev said that significant attention was being paid to the development of education in Azerbaijan. He stressed that the construction of the educational center is yet another manifestation of tolerance in the country. The centre has made further contribution to the development of friendly relations between the Azerbaijani and Jewish peoples, he said. President Ilham Aliyev said that representatives of different ethnicities live in peace and tranquility in a dynamically developing Azerbaijan today. "Our goal is to preserve this tranquility for the young generation," President Ilham Aliyev said and wished all the people living in Azerbaijan peace and prosperity.
The President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS and the International Ohr-Avner Foundation, Lev Leviev, thanked the head of state and his wife for the construction of the center. He noted that great leader Heydar Aliyev had always treated the sphere of education with great care and attention. Lev Leviev presented the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP Mehriban Aliyeva with an award for her contribution to the development of tolerance and inter-confessional dialog.

In conclusion, a picture was taken.