Ilham Aliyev received the representatives of Azerbaijan, who returned with victory from the “Eurovision-2011” song contest

On May 16, President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva received the representatives of Azerbaijan, who returned with victory from the “Eurovision-2011” song contest, organized in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Head of state congratulated the representatives by saying:

- I congratulate you wholeheartedly. You have properly represented our country in Eurovision Song Contest and earned a brilliant victory. This victory is the triumph of our country. It is your victory. You have brought joy to the entire Azerbaijani people by this victory. You may know that immediately after the victory, thousands of people poured to the streets to mark your victory.

Azerbaijani flag flied high. We lived through very memorable moments. You have truly represented our country.

It is for the fourth time that we take part in Eurovision Song Contest. During all these years, we have demonstrated good results. However, this result is of course the best one. It is the apex.

I can also say that the initiator of our participation in Eurovision was the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and, in particular, Mehriban khanum. We joined this contest on her initiative and in the course of all recent years, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the Public Television and other structures worked very actively. Each year we have been approaching to this victory closer and closer.

I can say that this contest is the most prestigious song contest in the world. Of course, it encompasses European countries. But, I think that there is no such second contest at global level. The audience counts something more than 100 million. It is a historic victory to win the first place in such a prestigious contest. First and foremost, this is your victory. I congratulate you once again. This is the victory of Azerbaijani youth, Azerbaijani people and the Azerbaijani state. This will remain already in history. You will also remain in the history. Azerbaijan raised its voice in Eurovision history. Of course, this is an immense joy for all of us.

I would like to congratulate you once again! I am confident that you will continue to represent properly our country in the future. Thus, Azerbaijan has made its debut in this field at global level. We are used to our victories in sport field. Our sportsmen bring us joy by their victories in various competitions. But, this is the first ever victory in this field.

I congratulate you once again and wish you new successes!

Afterwards, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva congratulated the winners of Eurovision – 2011 Song Contest and wished them success in their future activities.

Thanking them, Eldar Gasymov said:

I would like to congratulate you because this is our victory and of entire Azerbaijan.

Afterwards, a family photo was taken.