An exhibition devoted to Azerbaijani carpets was opened at the UNESCO headquarters

Azerbaijan's First Lady, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO Mehriban Aliyeva arrived at the UNESCO headquarters, April 19. First, Mrs Aliyeva met with UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova. After greeting Azerbaijan's First Lady, the UNESCO Director General said the recent World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku was a great success. She stressed that Baku holds a traditional place in the sphere of intercultural dialogue. It is not accidental that the intercultural dialogue is one of the major spheres to UNESCO worldwide. Emphasizing the role of Azerbaijan's First Lady in this sphere, Irina Bokova invited Mrs Aliyeva for the annual meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, scheduled for September this year. The invitation was accepted with pleasure.

Mrs Aliyeva thanked the UNESCO Director General for the invitation and expressed gratitude for support to the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku. Mrs Aliyeva highlighted the need to realize important decisions, made at the Forum, not just on paper but in real life. She added that there is still a huge need for international efforts to implement this idea.

It was stressed that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and UNESCO is developing and the current cultural ceremony at UNESCO is a good example.

Then, an exhibition of Azerbaijani carpets was opened at UNESCO. Mrs Aliyeva and Mrs Bokova attended the exhibition. All the spheres of Azerbaijan's carpet-making school, including geographical location, pattern, composition, color, technical features were represented there. The carpets, demonstrated there were of visitors’ great interest. The samples of the Garabagh carpet-making school, presented at the exhibition, became another evidence that Garabagh is the historical land of Azerbaijan.

The exhibition showed that the development of carpet-weaving in Azerbaijan has an ancient history. Ancient and medieval sources contain valuable information about the art of carpet weaving. It is a national treasure of Azerbaijani people. Azerbaijani carpets, passing a long historical path of development, are the subject of study and research now. Azerbaijani carpets adorn the most famous palaces and museums worldwide.

The carpets, reflecting the works by People's Artist Tahir Salahov attracted much attention. The carpets by the world famous Azerbaijani artist, who depicts the monuments of Azerbaijan’s material culture, historic figures, were of great interest among the guests. The visitors accepted with enthusiasm Tahir Salahov's many famous works, depicted in the carpets and well-known in the French audience. They included Ateshgah, Maiden Tower, Dede Gorgud, Fikret Amirov, Rostropovich, Gara Garayev, Flight to Space, the decorations for the ballet Thousand and One Night by Fikret Amirov and others.

Today, the Azerbaijani school of carpet weaving is flourishing. The country takes measures to develop carpet weaving, the national treasure of the Azerbaijani people, and to preserve this ancient folk craft. Azerbaijani carpet-making is enriched by the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the greatest patron of Azerbaijani culture. The work, conducted to develop this ancient craft, further enhances the national and global value of Azerbaijani carpets.

The demonstration of Azerbaijani carpets at UNESCO caused a great resonance. These carpets, reflecting our national originality, dreams and aspirations of our countrymen, brought the heartbeat of every Azerbaijani to the Western audience.

X X X

Then a solemn ceremony began with opening remarks from UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova. Greeting the guests, she said an excellent exhibition of Azerbaijani carpets was opened at UNESCO today. She spoke about the close cooperation between Azerbaijan's First Lady and UNESCO. Mrs Bokova stressed that Mehriban Aliyeva is the goodwill ambassador of UNESCO since 2004. "She has contributed greatly to the UNESCO family during her activity," she added. Mrs Aliyeva has significant merits in preserving the musical heritage and establishing the inter-cultural dialogue. The UNESCO Director General stressed that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's activity in this sphere deserves approval. She stressed that mugham, the pearl of the universal music, is included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO. Mrs Bokova expressed confidence that this event will be interesting and this brilliant ceremony will have an effect on all the visitors.

Addressing the ceremony, First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva welcomed the guests. Azerbaijan’s First Lady said the first democratic republic in the East was established in 1918 in Azerbaijan, which has an ancient history. Exactly here women obtained the right to elect and be elected for the first time in the Muslim world. Although Azerbaijan has been subjected to occupation by Armenia, the country’s economy is developing, large-scale social and infrastructure projects are implemented, health institutions, schools are being constructed in the country. Mrs Aliyeva appreciated the cooperation between UNESCO and Azerbaijan. The high level cooperation is also testified by the fact that mugham, Azerbaijani carpets and the most ancient holiday of Azerbaijani people – Novruz Holiday have been included in the UNESCO world cultural heritage list. Speaking of the activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mrs Aliyeva noted that the Foundation is carrying out large-scale work in Azerbaijan. Mrs Aliyeva remarked special importance of projects realized in cooperation with UNESCO. The First Lady of Azerbaijan voiced her hope that Azerbaijani young talented musicians’ performance at UNESCO would have a deep trace in the hearts of all participants.

Later on, young talents from Azerbaijan presented a grandiose concert program at UNESCO.

After a two-month interruption, Azerbaijan again became a focus of attention in France. Azerbaijan's culture was presented in Paris with its full riches and variety. A series of events devoted to Azerbaijan became important not only from a political point of view, but also enabled to demonstrate the great importance that the biggest protector of the world culture – UNESCO attaches to Azerbaijan.

The concert that featured singers of modern Azerbaijani pop-music drew attention to genre variety, harmony of synthesis, rich improvisation and caused admiration of audience.

Turning into an event in the cultural life of Paris, the concert drew attention to Azerbaijan, became a triumph of Azerbaijani culture, and contributed to popularizing the country and its unique art.

This concert program, which was of great interest, once again testified that today the unique pearls of Azerbaijani musical culture are sounded at authoritative ceremonies. This, first of all, is the result of the Azerbaijani state’s attention to the national cultural heritage. The role of Heydar Aliyev Foundation is invaluable in promoting Azerbaijani culture. This ceremony was the sign of the attitude of the Foundation’s President Mehriban Aliyeva to the national heritage.

The concert had a great impression on the audience, which took a great interest in the Azerbaijani culture, drawing attention to its unique colour. The meeting with the bright art of Azerbaijan will be a long and pleasant memory for all participants in the ceremony.

X X X

Following the concert, the First Lady of Azerbaijan hosted a reception. Thus, the presentation of Azerbaijani culture in Paris became an unforgettable holiday. The pieces of art demonstrated here plunged all participants into a magic world of tales – Azerbaijan.