TWENTY Azerbaijani veterans of the World War II have received surprising gifts of brand new cars from the government.The lovely small-sized sedans, made by a Chinese automaker and ordered by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, were assembled in a local automobile factory with the Chinese brand of Lifan. Thesespecial gifts were presented to the veterans during a meeting with ministry officials, said the reports.Labor Minister Fizuli Alekperov said that the government will improve and strengthen social protection for war veterans and the Victory Day (May 9) has been included in national holidays.

In WWII, Azerbaijan, then a Soviet republic, sent about 600,000 people to the battlefront, almost half of whom lost their lives. More than 130 Azerbaijanis were given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.