It was my mother, despite the limitations placed on women of her time by society, who insisted I be allowed to go abroad to study, in sturdy defiance of the male elders of the family, who protested and decided that I should be married off instead.

People trust those leaders who show real results of their work, rather than those who just talk about the results.

Women have more inner power for creation, starting from family and home and ending with professional activity and politics.

From day one, my mantra has been - and will continue to be - that as a government we were there to serve the people, not the other way around.

I am happy and proud that during one year of presidency, my initiatives have been strongly supported by the people and society and we have launched the process of vitally important state reforms.

Traditionally, women have a lot of different roles in society. It is very difficult to balance all these roles and at the same time to compete with men. A leading, successful woman has to put in much bigger efforts to be more competent and faster, more dynamic and organized, than a successful man.

I am a person of action. If I see I can bring a positive change, I will go for it, never mind that something might be hard to achieve.