An official ceremony was organized to mark May 28 –Republic Day

An official reception was organized at Buta Palace to celebrate May 28 – Republic Day. President Ilham Aliyev attended the reception.

President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva received a warm welcome from the people gathered at the palace.

Azerbaijan national anthem was performed.

The President delivered a speech at the event.

The President's speech was followed by award presenting ceremony to distinguished people for their merits in science, culture and literature in 2010.

President Ilham Aliyev presented State awards to Doctors of geological-mineralogical sciences Adil Aliyev, Elmira Aliyeva, Farid Dadashov, Associate Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Science Akber Feyzullayev, and academician Ibrahim Guliyev for the publication series titled “Mud volcanoes and oil-gas of the southern Caspian basin”.

In the field of culture, People’s Artist Alim Gasimov was presented a State Award for his performance mastery.

In the field of literature, academician Bakir Nabiyev, Doctors of philological sciences Maharram Gasimli, Vilayat Guliyev, Nizamaddin Shamsizade, Associate Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Science Teymur Karimov, and Ph.D. of philological sciences Nikpur Jabbarli were presented State awards for the book titled “Heydar Aliyev and Azerbaijan Literature”.

State award winners Adil Aliyev, Alim Gasimov, and Bakir Nabiyev expressed their gratitude, on behalf of the award winners, to President Ilham Aliyev and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, for their attention and care toward Azerbaijan science, culture, and literature.

The official reception ended with an interesting concert program.