DUSHANBE, 21.02.2017. / NIAT «Khovar»/. Azerbaijan’s first lady Mehriban Aliyeva has been appointed as the country’s first vice president. Azeri president Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree on Tuesday.

«Based on Article 1031.1 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, I appoint Mehriban Aliyeva as First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,» the decree says.

The post of the first vice president was introduced in Azerbaijan following a constitutional referendum held on September 26, 2016. According to a constitutional amendment, in case the president becomes unable to fulfill the duties of the office, the vice president will take over the responsibilities.

The presidential website says that on Tuesday, Ilham Aliyev had presented Mehriban Aliyeva as the country’s first vice president at a meeting of the national Security Council.

Mehriban Aliyeva, born on August 26, 1964, heads the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Azerbaijan’s largest non-governmental organization. She is also a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).