From the speech of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev with the residents of Ganja - May 24, 2000

...Each of my visit to Ganja pleased and inspired me, and I always found in Ganja a good mood and warm hospitality. It is not the first time that I visit Ganja. I visited Ganja in the 80s, 60s and in particular, after 1969 when I headed Azerbaijan. Ganja is a city I love, as well as for you, because it is a major cultural center demonstrating to the world the ancient history of the Azerbaijani culture…

“90 Instants of the Great leader”, Heydar Aliyev Heritage research center, “Sharq-Qarb”, Baku-2013, p.170