Azerbaijan to support Hungarian institute for blind children

The foundation stone for a new wing of the Laszlo Batthyany Institute for Blind Children, to be constructed in part from Azerbaijani funds, was laid in Budapest on Thursday.

The institute, run by the Hungarian Catholic Charity, will be supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

"This event opens a new chapter in Hungarian-Azerbaijani relations," Hungary's foreign trade chief Peter Szijjarto said at the ceremony.

From now on, the development of Hungarian-Azerbaijani relations will be motivated not only by mutual interests, but solidarity, friendship and compassion, he said.

At present the institute has 60 children under its care. The new five-storey wing will provide accommodation and a workplace for 30 young adults who grew up in the institute.

The project will cost 500 million forints (EUR 1.67m), of which 240 million will be covered by the Azerbaijani foundation.

On behalf of the foundation, Ilgar Mustafayev said that the foundation had been set up in 2004 to promote health, cultural and welfare projects abroad. He added that supporting children, especially those with disabilities, is one of their priorities.

ANN.Az