Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP, and Leila Aliyeva, Head of Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s Russia Office, attended on October 9 inauguration of International Festival BibliObraz-2007, which is organized in Moscow under patronage of First Lady of Russia Lyudmila Putina.
Opening the ceremony L.Putina said the Festival’s major objective is to lift the status of school libraries and librarians, involve schoolchildren in libraries and books, importance of which has been decreased because of mass media. The project is of great importance for children and their training. ‘Today, this great project has become an international event.’ L.Putina said.
Opening of Festival BibliObraz-2007 was followed by presentation of literary collections published in frame of international action ‘We discover each other’. Collection consisted of works of Azeri, Russian and Bulgarian writers published by Heydar Aliyev Foundation was presented to the participants of the Festival within this action.
The floor was given to Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva first. She expressed thanks to Lyudmila Putina and participants of the Festival for arranging such a forum. In her speech Mrs Aliyeva said: ‘I first of all express my gratitude to You for the invitation to partake at International Festival BibliObraz-2007. Interest in this festival is yearly growing. And it is natural because the Festival is dedicated to problems disturbing all us. This festival opens nice opportunities to supply the young reader with literature it needs. It also provides wonderful possibilities to publishers, translators and writers. The Festival helps expansion and protection of Russian-language cultural space. I want to emphasize action ‘We discover each other’ held in frame of the Festival. This action helps all young readers and all us to recognize each other better, and to recognize is to understand and respect.’
Spouse of former federal chancellor of Germany Doris Schroeder-Kepf, spouse of Kyrgyz President Tatiana Bakiyeva and others addressed the ceremony.
Then, First Lady of Azerbaijan and spouses of other countries’ presidents presented on the stage a collection ‘We discover each other’ to each of children in national costumes representing Festival’s participant countries. Children read in different languages parts from works included in literary collections ‘We discover each other’. A part was read from work ‘Historical agenda’ by writer Kamal Abdulla, rector of Baku Slav University.
Mehriban Aliyeva and Lyudmila Putina saw a play ‘Azerbaijan’s national costumes in eyes of Russian artist G.G.Gagarin’ performed by pupils of School 157 in Moscow with Azerbaijan ethnic and cultural component. In the second part of the play Azeri and Russian First Ladies saw ‘Musical journey to Azerbaijan’ talking of history of folk musical instruments of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani melodies played in saucers by simple pens received an ovation. After the play was over, Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva presented a doll, handwork by famous Azeri artist Elmira Abbasly, to Lyudmila Putina.
Spouses of Azeri and Russian Presidents were familiarized with exposition of stand ‘Azerbaijan’ made by Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The stand included works of Azeri literature classics published in Russian and other languages, new books released by Heydar Aliyev Foundation, including books by Mir Jalal Pashayev, outstanding face of XX century Azeri literature, DVDs and CDs on Azeri culture and Garabagh problem, handmade dolls, miniatures, mini carpets, musical instruments, copperwares and other exhibits. M.Aliyeva presented a collection ‘We discover each other’ gracefully published in Azerbaijan to L.Putina.
Over 10,000 books, souvenirs and other publications brought by Heydar Aliyev Foundation to Moscow indicate to the action of the Foundation towards propaganda of Azeri culture abroad.
The same day evening, Mehriban Aliyeva attended the reception given by Lyudmila Putina, Chairperson of the Festival’s Organization Committee, at Kremlin Palace in honor of the first ladies.
Festival BibliObraz-2007, which will be closed on October 11, involves delegations from 22 countries, including USA, Great Britain, Germany, Bulgaria, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Austria, India.