As we have already informed, XIII General Assembly of National Olympic Committee Association (NOCA) was passing in the capital of Malaysia Kuala-Lumpur from May 21 to 25. President of National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, Milli Majlis deputy Ilham Aliyev took part in the work of assembly.

Forum of National Olympic Committee Association in Kuala-Lumpur was a reporting-selective event of that organization.

Special assembly of European Olympic committee, where candidates that would represent National Olympic Committee Association in International Olympic Committee (IOC) from Europe took place in Kuala-Lumpur on May 21.

NOCA General assembly continued its work on May 22. In the same day reports of NOCA vice-presidents on continents and information on Association commissions' activity were listened. In the second half of the day elections of NOCA president took place. Mario Vaskes Rana was elected to the post of NOCA president again

Azeri NOC president Ilham Aliyev conducted number of meeting on May 22. In the meeting with NOCA president Mario Vaskes Rana he spoke about activity of Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, successes reached in the republic in the last few years in the sphere of expansion of Olympic movement, forthcoming activity of the committee. Mr. Mario Vaskes Rana highly esteemed the work Azeri NOC carried out, noted about importance of this experience distribution. Opinion exchange on further expansion of relations and cooperation between NOCA and Azerbaijan NOC took place in the meeting. Mario Vaskes Rana noted that Azeri president Heydar Aliyev was awarded with the orders of "Olympic dignity" presented by NOCA to considerable state figures having great services in development of Olympic movement and sport in 1997. Giving this award to Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee president Ilham Aliyev, he asked to give it to Azeri president.

Meeting between Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee president Ilham Aliyev and European Olympic Committee president Mario Peskante also passed in business and friendship atmosphere. It was said in the meeting about NOC activity in our country and its participation in the events of European organization. Mr. Mario Peskante remembered about his visit to Azerbaijan and stated about his satisfaction with new NOC improvements for that period, greeted intensive development of Olympic movement and sport in Azerbaijan.

NOC president Ilham Aliyev conducted next meeting with IOC vice-president Vitaliy Smirnov. Many issues connected with International Olympic movement, ways of expansion of the relations between NOC and IOC were discussed in the meeting that passed in cozy and business atmosphere.

In the same day Ilham Aliyev met with EOC Secretary General Patrick Hickey and presidents of National Olympic Committees of number of countries. NOC activity, its progresses achieved in the sphere of development of Olympic movement was discussed in these meetings. Experience exchange was conducted as well.

Ilham Aliyev met with International Heavy Athletics Federation President Mr. Tomas Ayan in Kuala-Lumpur as well. Remembering about his recent visit to Azerbaijan, Mr. Tomas Ayan shared with his impressions on the country championship, noted that though only one year passed since his last visit, considerable improvement in the sphere of sport could be observed. He noted that there are all conditions in Azerbaijan to conduct not only European championship but also heavy athletics world championship. National Olympic Committee president Ilham Aliyev expressed his sorrow about his absence in Baku during Tomas Ayan's visit to Azerbaijan and thanked him for the kind words on development of sport and Olympic movement in the country. Ilham Aliyev expressed conformity that the relations of International Heavy Athletics Federation with Azerbaijan would continue in future more intensively.

On May 23 XIII General assembly of National Olympic Committee Assembly continued its work. Participants discussed many issues of the agenda. Speaking about activity of the national Olympic committees in the sphere of development of Olympic movement, NOCA president Mario Vaskes Rana specially noted about the work Azeri NOC carried out and the successes reached by it. He informed that National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan was awarded with the special NOCA reward and submitted that reward to NOC president Ilham Aliyev. Tehre was a note on it: "National Olympic Committee of the Azerbaijan Republic is awarded for the distribution of Olympic ideals in the world and its services in the sport development".

In the same day Azerbaijan NOC president Ilham Aliyev met with IOC president Jacque Rogge in his residence. Mr. Jacque Rogge said that he knew about development of the sport in Azerbaijan, expansion of Olympic movement, successes achieved in our country in the sphere of construction new sportive buildings, complexes, wonderful organization and conduction of number of prestige international competitions. He noted that the results of 45th European free-style wrestling championship speak about the fact that there were all conditions in Azerbaijan for organization and conduction of competitions on high level. NOC president expressed his satisfaction with expansion of Olympic movement in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan NOC president Ilham Aliyev informed in detail about the work carried in the last few years in the sphere of sport development, Olympic movement, conducted measures.

In the course of the speech Jacque Rogge noted that he remembered the meetings with Azeri president Heydar Aliyev conducted in Baku with great satisfaction, as well as highly esteemed his care and contribution in the sport and Olympic movement development. Mr. Jacque Rogge asked to send his greetings and respect to President Heydar Aliyev.

Azerbaijan NOC president met with IOC management director on national Olympic committees and Olympic solidarity Pere Miro on May 24. Opinion exchange on joint work with the mentioned department was made in the meeting, NOCA General Assembly continued its work on May 25. Joint session of IOC Executive committee and reps of National Olympic committees took place in the same day. IOC President Jacque Rogge spoke with the detailed report in the session. He informed that no radical changes had been made to the program of Olympic games and noted about importance of conduction of the special session for discussion of many issues. Mr. Jacque Rogge offered to revise the program of the games with the condition that number of competitions and participants included in the program, of Olympic games would not be increased. After wide opinion exchange it was decided to conduct session in upcoming IOC session that would take place in November on this issue. NOCA XIII General assembly finished its work on this.

Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee President Ilham Aliyev came back to the Motherland on May 26.

BAKU.28.05.2002.AzerTAg