POLITICS
AZERBAIJAN – EXAMPLE IN TERMS OF CROSS-CULTURAL DIALOGUE, UNESCO CHIEF
Baku, July 30 (AZERTAC). The Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has praised Azerbaijan`s role in the cross-cultural dialogue.
Irina Bokova met with members of the Azerbaijani National Commission for UNESCO in Baku.
She said Azerbaijan was “an example” to other countries in terms of the dialogue among cultures.
Bokova praised the fact Azerbaijan declared “protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage one of its key priorities”.
The UNESCO chief also hailed Azerbaijan`s “close” cooperation with the organization, adding the country joined a number of UNESCO conventions on protection of cultural heritage.
Bokova praised Azerbaijan`s first lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva`s contribution to developing the Azerbaijan-UNESCO cooperation and promoting the country`s cultural values.
Bokova said UNESCO will consider including Azerbaijan`s carpet into its list of intangible cultural heritage.
“The UNESCO commission on intangible cultural heritage will convene in Kenya this November, and the Azerbaijani government`s proposal will be among issues topping the agenda.”
“I hope the Azerbaijani carpet will be included into the list as our experts have a positive attitude concerning your government`s proposal,” Bokova told the Azerbaijani National Commission`s members.
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who chairs the commission, stressed the importance of UNESCO-supported projects in Azerbaijan. The minister praised Azerbaijan`s first lady, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva`s role in developing the cooperation between the country and the organization.
Culture and tourism minister Abulfaz Garayev said Bokova`s visit would “open a new page in the UNESCO-Azerbaijan relations”.
“We plan to hold a high-level forum on cross-cultural dialogue in Baku next April. And the project is supported by UNESCO.”
Garayev also touched upon Azerbaijan`s gaining membership at the UNESCO committee on intangible culture, saying “it marks a qualitatively new level in our relations”.
Participants at the meeting included communications and information technologies minister Ali Abbasov, ecology and natural resources minister Huseyngulu Baghirov, youth and sports minister Azad Rahimov, chairwoman of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Hijran Huseynova, Vice-President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Naila Valikhanly, deputy labor and social protection of the population minister Ilgar Rahimov,
chief of foreign relations department at the Azerbaijani President`s Administration Novruz Mammadov, head of Azerbaijan`s permanent mission to UNESCO Eleonora Huseynova, and first secretary of the National Commission for UNESCO Gunay Efendiyeva.
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