On 19-20 March 1998 the meetings of the National Olympic Committees of CIS with the International Olympic Committee took place in Swiss city of Lozanna. President of the NOC Ilham Aliyev, vice-president Chingiz Huseynzade and secretary genera; Agajan Abiyev were participating in the meeting. During Lozanna visit individual meeting of president of International Olympic Committee marquis Chuan Antonio Samaranch with our representative delegation took place as well.

In the meeting Ilham Aliyev informed Chuan Antonio Samaranch on the works carried out by Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee and perspective plans. During the conversation he pointed the attention mainly to the expansion of international ties, issues of strengthening cooperation in IOC and spoke about the problems of the Olympic Committee in the Republic. Speaking about importance of development of sport in Azerbaijan, establishment of the Olympic bases meeting the international standards, Ilham Aliyev gave detailed information on the problems concerning with the condition of Mingachevir rowing base, reconstruction of it.

Mr. Samaranch promised to send special experts to Azerbaijan to become familiar with the condition of Olympic training rowing base "Kur" in Mingachevir, work out the plan on the concrete measures in connection with its reconstruction, said that International Olympic Committee would render its assistance in the reconstruction of base. In the same year IOC expert arrived in Azerbaijan, got familiar with the condition of Mingachevir base.

As it is known, as a result of occupation of 20% of Azeri territories by Armenian armed forces, nearly one million people have become refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan. The majority of these people is located in the camping, some part of them in dormitories, sanatoriums and resting zones, sports bases of different cities of the republic, as well as "Kur" rowing base of Mingachevir city. The fact that the issue of the problems concerning nearly 200 refugee families allocated in the Olympic training-sportive base isn't solved, delayed realization of this project.