Azeri-Press Agency (APA) solemnly celebrated its 5th birthday in Baku Entertainment Center on November 16.
state officials, parliamentarians, representatives of the diplomatic offices accredited in Azerbaijan, art figures, representatives of political parties, heads of media outlets, in other words APA’s readers and sources of information.

Film made on the occasion of APA’s 5th jubilee “APA reports” was first presented in the ceremony. Chief of socio-political department of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov, Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfaz Garayev, vice-speaker Ziyafat Asgarov, academician Rafig Aliyev, rector of Baku Music Academy Farhad Badalbayli, chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Party Serdar Jalaloglu, chairman of the United Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev, editor-in-chief of the Yeni Musavat newspaper Rauf Arifoglu, chairman of Rabitebank OJSC Observation Council Zakir Nuriyev, executive director of the Fund of State Support for NGOs Azay Guliyev, chairman of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov, spokesman for Interior Ministry Sadig Gozalov, secretary of the Writers’ Union Rashad Majid, people’s artist Fakhraddin Manafov, deputy chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Haji Sabir Hasanli shared their views, impressions about the agency in the film.

APA Director General Vusala Mahirgizi expressed her gratitude to all the participants of the ceremony.
“I am grateful to everybody – our friends, rivals and sources of information. Five years ago we started to found a long-life, popular agency and achieved it. I am grateful to Azerbaijani state, President for the conditions created for the development of freedom of speech. I am grateful to all employees of APA – from 7 persons, who founded it, to 150. This is their agency, their merit,” she said.

Chief of the public policy department of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov congratulated APA and talked about his memories about the agency. Hasanov recommended to prefer working in the staff of men headed by woman than the staff of women headed by man. “Vusala and APA can be an example of that”.

Ali Hasanov said there were tens of agencies with own lines in the arena when APA was established. “Vusala couldn’t mention any of those agencies. Her APA featured its own line and took its place among those agencies”.

Than Azerbaijani popular singers Tayyar Bayramov, Ilqar Muradov, Fidan Hajiyeva, Tunzala Aghayeva, Manana, Faig Aghayev, Lala Mammadova, Ayaz Gasimov, Eurovision 2009 bronze winner Aysel Teymourzadeh perform their hit songs.

APA founding staff members – director general Vusala Mahirgizi, first deputy director general Nurshan Guliyev, deputy director general for technical issues Seymour Ismayilov, Gulshan Hajiyeva, Ikhtiyar Asgarov and Kamil Abishov received APA’s plaquettes.

In the end, APA staff members cut a jubilee cake.