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October 8, 2016

A statue of Mahsati Ganjavi is erected in the French city of Cognac

With one of its objectives being to widely promote Azerbaijan’s culture throughout the world, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has arranged a series of events in France in the framework of the project “Nizami Ganjavi and Mahsati Ganjavi: an Eternal Bridge Linking the 12th and 21st Centuries”. Another event of the Foundation was the inauguration of a statue of Mahsati Ganjavi, a world-renowned master of rubaiyat, in the French city of Cognac.

 

Erection of a statue of Mahsati Ganjavi, the first project of fraternization of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz city and French city of Cognac, with joint organizational support of Azerbaijan’s Embassy in France and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in the city centre, in the Town Hall garden created a true Azerbaijani environment here.

 

The inauguration of a white marble statue of Mahsati Ganjavi, one of the masters of word with her special position in enriching the 2th century Azerbaijan renaissance culture, whose poetic creativity has been a focus of attention of local and foreign orientalists, and appreciated highly, started by a speech of mayor of the city of Cognac Michel Gourinchas.

 

The mayor of the city of Cognac first talked about the relations between our countries. He mentioned the participation of a delegation from Tovuz in the millennial anniversary of Cognac, and said that relations between the two cities are becoming stronger as time goes on. It was mentioned that inauguration of a statue of Mahsati Ganjavi and the Orangery Hall will serve to enriching the bilateral relations, and that the Orangery Hall will create conditions for arranging exhibitions and allowing residents of both the cities make themselves familiarized with each-other’s culture more closely.

 

Then ambassador of Azerbaijan to France Elchin Amirbeyov, delivering a speech, gave comprehensive information about our country’s rich culture, history, and projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, around the world.

 

The diplomat, touching upon the fraternization treaty signed between the cities of Tovuz and Cognac, mentioned its role in developing bilateral relations between the two countries. He brought to attention that Mahsati Ganjavi defended women’s right and gender equality in her works back in the 12th century. He said works by Mahsati Ganjavi have been translated into a number of foreign languages, and they are read with great pleasure.

 

Celebration of the 900th anniversary of works by Mahsati Ganjavi at UNESCO in 2013, and functioning of a hall named after Mahsati Ganjavi at the Mulhouse Upper Alsace University, with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, was brought to attention. E.Amirbeyov thanked for the reverence shown towards the memory of Azerbaijan’s great poetess in Cognac.

 

Then deputy mayor of the city of Cognac Jean-Francois Herouard, talking about Mahsati Ganjavi’s creativity, told one of her rubaiyats, accompanied by music.

 

Attendees of the event thanked authors of the statue of Mahsati Ganjavi – Salhab Mammadov and Ali Ibadullayev- for this magnificent work.

 

At a cocktail party arranged after the opening ceremony, Gulay Zeynally performed our mughams, accompanied by tarzan Rovshan Gourbanov and kaman player Jeyhun Muradov. The attendees of the event said they were amazed at Azerbaijani mughams.


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