November 3, 2010

An international conference on ‘Cultural Heritage and Music’

Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, visited Ankara on November 3-5 to attend international conference ‘Cultural Heritage and Music’.

Presiding at the next part of the international conference, Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the event.

Address by Mehriban Aliyeva:

Dear friends!

First of all, I would like to welcome you and extend my best wishes to you.

I am glad to be here in Turkey again. I am twice glad to be at the Bilkent University, founded by great personality Ihsan Dogramaci.

Taking the opportunity, I wish peace, welfare and happiness to the fraternal people of Turkey.

And now considering the fact that the working language of our conference is English, let me continue my speech in this language.

Dear first ladies of Turkey, Latvia, Macedonia and Slovenia!

Dear Mr Ali Dogramaci!

Dear participants and guests of the conference! Ladies and gentlemen!

First of all, I would like to welcome all of you and extend gratitude to the organizer and initiator of this conference Mr Ali Dogramaci for the opportunity to take part in such an important international forum.

I would also like to thank the first ladies for support to the forum and participation in it. Your participation in different humanitarian projects related to spheres. Your participation in different humanitarian projects related to the spheres of science, education and culture and activity in our country for the sake of peace, harmony and mutual understanding will become a great contribution to this event.

Dear friends, in the next two days we will speak here about cultural heritage, in particular, music. Music is a delicate and interesting carrier, combining the feelings of a person. Finally, music personifies the constant efforts of a person in his striving for beauty and perfectness.

The organization of this discussion at the Bilkent University created by a person who devoted his life to such high ideas, as kindness, humanism and perfectness, has a great symbolical nature. Ihsan Dogramaci was a prominent scientist, doctor, enlightened and mercenary. He received many awards and medals, in particular, the Order of Istiglal and the highest Order of Heydar Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Ihsan Dogramaci has founded the international structure called Family Health Foundation and a premium for peace in international relations. Through many years Ihsan Dogramaci has been a member and head of a number of influential international organizations. He was an honorary member of the national academies of science of France, India, Azerbaijan and other countries.

Azerbaijan had a special place in Ihsan Dogramaci’s life. He was a real friend of our country and he treated Azerbaijan. In turn, the Azerbaijani people values the noble and good actions of Ihsan Dogramaci and remembers this prominent personality.

Ihsan Dogramaci was a very wise person. He had a wide outlook. He was confident that people, speaking different languages and practicing different religions, having different cultural and historical roots, as the differences carriers can unite and must interact. They can create the world based on such a concept as global ethics and humanism.

I believe the forum held today will promote those ideas. Thus, this event will become the continuation of great steps, initiated by that unique personality. I am grateful to those who continue these traditions in this center of science, education and culture.

Dear participants, the language of music is universal. It should not be translated, music is clear to everyone. Music is a phenomenon, able to inspire everyone to the world of emotions and feelings. Music is a conversation between the performer and the audience. Thanks to it, people express their feelings and emotions. This means allows people transferring the feelings and ideas inside them. Music brings tranquility to the singer and the audience. It can bring happiness, peace and harmony. Music removes differences where language cannot help. Music is also a unique part of our heritage. It reflects history, religion, cultural traditions of our people. Music is a genetic code, carrying national belonging.

If we take closer to the history of our country, we will see that Azerbaijan is an ancient area with rich cultural heritage. This is demonstrated in our literature, carpets, art, architecture and music. In 1991 Azerbaijan restored its independence, however, our country has been within different empires for many years. Despite this, we have preserved our language, music, traditions, culture and identity.

Today, we live in a quite intricate world, where the conception of cultural heritage has a wide sense. Globalization is believed to lead to cultural identity in a natural way.

This means that global norms and ideas will prevail over national cultures. I am sure that it is possible to integrate with the global world considering the cultural heritage and traditions of every country. By preserving each particle of the unique cultural heritage, which we had had for many years, we must be ready to the challenges of the modern world, must overcome them. To be loyal to his cultural roots, every person must be able to perceive definite differences for some or other important reasons. The world must not make all equal. Diversity can only enrich us. We should treat each other with respect and tolerance. Knowledge promotes understanding.

I think, it is absolutely clear that this approach should be used in the resolution of many problems in the world.

Dear friends, I would like to complete my speech optimistically. As you know, a number of international music festivals have been held under support of Heydar Aliyev’s Foundation in Azerbaijan in the past few years. The First International Mugham Festival was held at the new International Mugham Center in 2009. The event involved the lovers, performers and researchers of mugham and guests from many countries. The Mstislav Rostropovich Festival is held in Baku every year in memory of one of our prominent countrymen in December. The Second International Music Festival was held in one of the most beautiful regions of our country - Gabala in 2010. Music unites all people, regardless of nationality, gender, age and origin at these festivals.

I am sure that within two days the wonderful music of East and West will create a unit and special atmosphere here. It will make our hearts happy, raise our spirit and wake our feelings.

Thank you for attention.