Another event was held in Niort city of Deux-Sevres Department in connection with Days of Azerbaijan

Another event was held in Niort city of Deux-Sevres Department in connection with Days of Azerbaijan within the “Cultural Values of Azerbaijan – the Pearl of Caucasus” project with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and  the Embassy of our country in France to promote Azerbaijan in France and give broader information to the French about our country’s rich historical and cultural values.

The event commenced with the opening of an exhibition about our country at grand “Le Moulin du Bac Scene National” Palace. City Mayor, deputy from the Department Geneviève Gaillard noted that they were given the opportunity, for the first time,  to get to know the Azerbaijani culture and art, little known to residents of Niort,  as well as its songs and dances,  and recalled that First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva was on a visit to France in connection with events being held on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between France and Azerbaijan, underscored significance of developing the cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of culture further in future, and emphasized that our cuisine was one of the criteria of Azerbaijan’s richness.

Emphasizing that Azerbaijan’s relations with France has been developing in all areas, including culture, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to France Elchin Amirbeyov noted that regular cultural events are held in Paris in connection with our country, hundreds of Azerbaijani students are studying in various higher schools of Paris, and that last year, first time in Caucasus, the foundation of a French school was laid in Baku.  

Saying that currently diplomatic efforts are made towards developing the cooperation between the two countries in cultural sphere further, the Ambassador noted there was special interest to the developing vine-growing area.

E.Amirbeyov talked of the rich historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, and underlined that pieces displayed at the exhibition were obvious example of our country’s cultural values.

The Ambassador noted that regaining its independence in 1991 and having always been loyal to traditions of tolerance towards different religious and ethnic minorities, Azerbaijan relied on democratic values put forward by the Council of Europe, UN and other international organizations such as freedom of speech and thought aimed at establishment and development of a civil society.

Recalling the travel by well-known French writer Alexander Dumas (father) to Azerbaijan  in the second half of the 19^th century, Elchin Amirbeyov noted that today also well-known persons of France travel to our country, and, as an obvious example of this, he underlined that famous actor Gérard Depardieu has been several times to Azerbaijan.

Touching upon the developing cultural relations between France and Azerbaijan, he underlined the opening in September of this year of a cultural centre in Paris under the  Embassy, the holding of a solemn ceremony in Paris on the occasion of the 20^th  anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Azerbaijan and France with participation of First Lady of Azerbaijan, head of the Azerbaijani-French Friendship Group at the Milli Majlis, UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva, and stated that the Days of Azerbaijan in France would stimulate the development of  cultural relations between the two countries.

Emphasizing boundlessness of cultures in his speech, Department’s prefect Pierre Lambert assessed such events as one of the criteria of intercultural dialogue, and underlined the significance of exhibitions and other means in getting nations to know of each other’s history, culture and art.

Old khurjuns and farshs, music instruments and other pieces displayed at the exhibition aroused interest in guests. Books and brochures talking of the history of Azerbaijan, the Guba carpet making art, old monuments of Baku and tourism opportunities, as well as video films reflecting Azerbaijan’s culture, art, matchless nature and other areas were displayed at the exhebition.

Finally, songs and dances were performed by the Mugham Instrumental Ensemble and the State Dance Ensemble headed by People’s Artist of the republic  Afag Malikova. French viewers expressed their interest to and amazement at the national dances performed by our boys with continuous applauses.