President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture of the State of Vatican, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi.
The President of Azerbaijan expressed his confidence that the visit of Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi to our country would be successful and would contribute to the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the Vatican. Noting that bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the Vatican were developing successfully, President Ilham Aliyev pointed to the importance of the ongoing joint projects. Touching upon the demonstration of exhibitions devoted to Azerbaijan at the Vatican Museums, the President expressed his satisfaction with the fact that cooperation was developing in a new format in recent years. President Ilham Aliyev said that President of the Pontifical Council for Culture of the State of Vatican, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, was being awarded one of the highest awards of Azerbaijan, the "Dostlug" Order. The President presented the Order to Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi.
Expressing his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the "Dostlug" Order, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi regarded it as recognition of the fact that the relations between Azerbaijan and the Vatican were developing consistently. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi congratulated the head of state on his reelection as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He said that President Ilham Aliyev was also being awarded with one of the highest and rare awards of the Holy See, Medalla Sede Vacante, for his contribution to the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the Vatican, and presented the medal to the President of Azerbaijan on behalf of the Holy See. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi emphasized the exceptional contribution of the First Lady of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva to the strengthening of relations between the two countries.
The guest expressed his confidence that bilateral relations would continue to develop in the future.
In conclusion, a photo was taken as a souvenir.
