AZERBAIJANI COMPOSER - UNESCO’S ARTIST FOR PEACE
A ceremony on the occasion of conferment of the Azerbaijani composer and Chairperson of Azerbaijani Composers’ Union Mrs. Firangiz Alizade with the UNESCO’s Artist for Peace prize was held at the organization’s Headquarters on March 3.
The delegation headed by Elchin Efendiyev, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan attended the ceremony.
Making a speech at the event, Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura said Azerbaijan - UNESCO relations were recently developing thanks to activities of Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Member of Azerbaijan Parliament.
He highly appreciated merits of Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva in development of the Azerbaijani Mugam, as well as her initiative of the establishment of the Mugam Center in Baku.
Stressing that Azerbaijan has always played a great role in enrichement of the world culture and art, the UNESCO Director-General spoke about cultural activities of Azerbaijani composer Firangiz Alizade.
Speaking at the ceremony, Firangiz Alizade expressed her gratitude to the UNESCO leadership for the prize and said it was a great honor for her.
Elchin Efendiyev, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister assessed Mrs. Alizade’s awarding UNESCO’s high prize as a significant event for the people of Azerbaijan.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister “Azerbaijan’s integration into the world community, as well as its national culture’s popularising in the world are part of President Ilham Aliyev’s domestic and foreign policy”.
“Though 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories are under the Armenian occupation, the dynamic development processes including in culture of Azerbaijan have been underway”, said Mr. Efendiyev.
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Before the ceremony, Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura received the delegation headed by Elchin Efendiyev, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan.
The Director-General said he would pay a visit to Azerbaijan to attend a regional conference on education problems to be held at the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva in May.
Expressing his gratitude to the UNESCO Director-General for the reception, Elchin Efendiyev said the conference to be held in Baku would have great importance for Azerbaijan.
Mr. Efendiyev assessed Azerbaijani composer’s awarding the UNESCO’s Artist for Peace Prize as a gift to the culture and art of Azerbaijan.
Eleonora Hüseynova, Permanent Delegate of Azerbaijan to UNESCO also attended the meeting.
