GOODWILL AMBASSADOR MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA ATTENDS UNESCO’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Prior to the ceremony, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva met with former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and former UNESCO Directors General Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow and Federico Mayor.
The ceremony began with a film telling of the history of UNESCO founded on November 16, 1945, when representatives from 37 countries gathered in London decided to create an organization dedicated to building peace through education, science and culture.
“What we are celebrating today is not so much the commemoration of a past event but pride in our capacity to respond with courage, energy and commitment to the challenges of our time,” said UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura in his welcome address.
“Since its foundation, UNESCO has sought to link these four domains together in such a way that a shared idea of humanity may emerge – one that is culturally diverse but unified in its common acknowledgement of the universal principles of justice, human rights and human dignity. Every aspect of UNESCO’s history speaks to this vision,” Mr. Matsuura said.
Among over 1,000 guests who attended the ceremony were the President of Ukraine, Victor Yushchenko, French Foreign Affairs Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, and former UNESCO Director-Generals Federico Mayor and Amadou-Mahtar M’Bow, the President of UNESCO’s General Conference, Musa Bin Jaafar Bin Hassan.
The ceremony was followed by a concert, in which Azerbaijan symphonic Orchestra with the work by Germany-based Azerbaijani music composer Firangiz Alizade, was among performers from 17 world countries.
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