Vienna, May 14 (AZERTAC). Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening ceremony of Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Vienna. The Head of State inaugurated the Center. 

President Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

The Head of State hailed the opening of the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Vienna, which is one of the cultural centers of the world, calling it as “a significant milestone” in the history of relations between the two countries.

President Ilham Aliyev said he exchanged views with his Austrian counterpart on how to boost cooperation in various areas, including political, economic, educational, tourism and cultural ones. The Azerbaijani leader stressed the importance of the Declaration signed by the Presidents in terms of further strengthening the bilateral cooperation.

The Head of State praised the business forum held in Vienna, saying business circles from both sides are determined to realize new projects.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Vienna would make huge contribution to bolstering strong friendship and partnership relations between the two countries and peoples.

Speaking to the ceremony, Fritz Neugebauer, Second President of the Austrian National Council, hailed the friendship ties between Azerbaijan and Austria.

Touching upon the importance of the political and business links, Mr. Neugebauer said cultural ties bring the peoples closer. The Second President of the National Council expressed confidence that President Ilham Aliyev`s official visit, as well as the opening of the Cultural Center would give an impetus to further strengthening of the relationship.

At the opening ceremony, Austrian public figures, representatives of Azerbaijani diaspora and Azerbaijani students talked to President Ilham Aliyev. They praised the opening of the Cultural Center in Vienna, describing it as “an important step”.

The Cultural Center was set up under President Ilham Aliyev`s Order signed on 16 November, 2012, aimed at popularizing Azerbaijan`s cultural legacy in Austria.

The Center will host a variety of events on Azerbaijan`s rich cultural heritage, art and tourism potential. The Center will also organize Azerbaijani language courses. A rich library of Azerbaijani authors and media will be available too. Visitors of the Cultural Center will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with works of Azerbaijani classic writers and poets, including Nizami Ganjavi, Nasimi and Mahammad Fizuli.

The Center will regularly carry out concert programs to create an opportunity to listen to Azerbaijani traditional mugham and classical music, as well as works of great composers like Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Gara Garayev, Fikrat Amirov and Arif Malikov.

Exhibitions and fairs will be also conducted in the Center to feature works of Azerbaijan`s artists, sculptors and masters of applied arts.

The Center`s objectives also focus on further developing cooperation between cultural and tourism agencies of Austria and Azerbaijan.

The Cultural Center in Vienna is one of the important initiatives undertaken by Azerbaijan`s First Lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva to promote the country abroad. The new cultural facility provides an opportunity to better coordinate works in this regard, as well as carry out more rational activities.

The first Cultural Center of Azerbaijan was opened in Paris in September, 2012, by President Ilham Aliyev.

President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva signed the guest book of the Cultural Center.