Sheikh Mohammed on official two-day visit to Azerbaijan

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, started an official two-day visit to Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

Sheikh Mohammed laid a wreath at the tomb of Azerbaijan’s founder, Heydar Aliyev, in Baku and then visited the Eternal Flame memorial at Martyrs Lane, laying a wreath while a band played the national anthems of the UAE and Azerbaijan, the state news agency Wam reported.

Baku’s mayor, Mir Hajibala Abutalibov, briefed Sheikh Mohammed and members of his accompanying delegation about the landmark, built in memory of the military and civilian victims of the 1990 Soviet crackdown on Baku, Black January.

Sheikh Mohammed praised the country’s past glories and its progress under the leadership of president Ilham Aliyev, who leads a development drive to ensure prosperity for his people.

The delegation accompanying Sheikh Mohammed includes Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Emirates Group chief executive, Mohammed Al Gargawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Sultan Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State, and other Government figures, as well as Salem Al Ghafli, UAE ambassador to Azerbaijan, who previously pledged to help grow relations between the UAE and Azerbaijan during his tenure.

At the start of an official visit to Azerbaijan today, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum laid a wreath at the tomb of Azerbaijan founder, the late Heydar Aliyev, in Baku.

Afterwards, Sheikh Mohammed visited the Eternal Flame memorial at the Martyrs' Lane and laid a wreath while the band played the national anthems of the UAE and Azerbaijan.

Sheikh Mohammed and members of his accompanying delegation were briefed by Baku Mayor Mir Hajibala Abutalibov about the landmark, built in the memory of the military and civilian victims of Black January.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his interest in visiting the landmarks commemorating Azerbaijan's greatest politicians, artists, intellectuals, economists and warriors, as they represent the country's rich history.

He praised Azerbaijan's past glories and the progress it achieved in modern times under the wise leadership of President Ilham Aliyev who leads a development drive to ensure prosperity for his people.

Earlier, Sheikh Mohammed arrived in Baku, leading a high level delegation, on an official two-day visit to Azerbaijan under an invitation by President Ilham Aliyev.