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March 19, 2009

Cooperation Agreement on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and UNESCO

On March 19, Azerbaijan`s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva met with Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura.

 

Mehriban Aliyeva said she is pleased to once again welcome Koichiro Matsuura in Azerbaijan. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s President thanked the UNESCO Director-General for accepting her invitation to attend “The World of Mugham” International Festival. Mrs. Aliyeva also touched upon the Azerbaijan-UNESCO cooperation, saying it had seen a considerable progress lately.

 

Koichiro Matsuura said he is pleased to be visiting Azerbaijan again. He praised the holding of the international mugham festival in Baku.

 

The meeting ended with the signing of a Cooperation Agreement on Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and UNESCO.

 

The document was signed by President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva and UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura.


In the agreement, both parties reiterated their intention to contribute - in a spirit of close cooperation and mutual assistance - to implementing the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.


Governed by goodwill principles and paying attention to improvement of circumstances and professional development in developing countries they also agreed to organize joint events for protection of intangible cultural heritage.

 

Following the signing ceremony, Koichiro Matsuura presented UNESCO`s Silver Medal to Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva.


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