The annual meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors in Paris
The annual meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors took place in Paris, May 14. First Lady of Azerbaijan, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the meeting.
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the meeting.
Speech by Mehriban Aliyeva:
Dear friends!
The last year was dynamic and fruitful for Heydar Aliyev Foundation. It successfully implemented a number of huge projects in the cultural, educational and social fields. We marked the 5th anniversary of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation a few days ago. On this occasion, we published a book featuring the work done by the Foundation over the past five years. The book contains objectives of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and informs of projects performed. Copies of that book have been distributed today to you and I suppose it will be interesting for you to be aware of achievements we have gained as non-governmental organization. Works we have done for past 5 years in field of education, health and culture have brought respect to Heydar Aliyev Foundation both in Azerbaijan and international community. It is appreciable that Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijani Culture Friends Foundation have realized firm cooperation with an influential international organization such UNESCO.
I would like to inform of some joint projects we implemented after the last meeting. As Mr Matsuura mentioned, the International Mugham Festival was held in Baku this March due to support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The International Mugham Center was officially opened. Construction of this center started in August 2005 and Mr Matsuura attended the foundation laying ceremony. He kept his promise and participated in opening of the International Mugham Festival in March. The First International Mugham Festival in Baku was eminent event and mugham was presented to the wider audience. The Mugham Festival brought singers from 14 countries together. Huge interest by international public in this event indicates its nice perspectives. This is why we decided to hold the festival every 2 years.
Heydar Aliyev Foundation wishes to help protection of cultural heritage of other nations too and with great pleasure I want to mention that is willing to provide financial aid to the intangible cultural heritage conservation project in African countries. This four-month project aims at forming 26 specialists from African states to protect cultural heritage. They will take courses at the school in African state Benin. This school was founded in 1998 as the regional educational and research center to train specialists for 6 African states. The aim of the projects is to train highly qualified specialists to protect and bolster cultural heritage of Africa. Besides, it serves cooperation and exchange of experience among African states. I am sure Heydar Aliyev Foundation will contribute to its success.
Dear colleagues!
Governed by my 5-year action as UNESCO goodwill ambassador I want to express great honor of being the member of the UNESCO family. Efforts we made along with you during these years, achievements we gained have become integral part of my personal life and career. I am much grateful to UNESCO for meeting skilful, gifted and very good friends here. They are persons ready to do, change something or listen to people in need and help.
Finally, I deeply thank UNESCO Director General Mr Matsuura. I express him gratitude also for his personal efforts to promote UNESCO principles and ideas. On behalf of all you I thank Mr Matsuura for his devotion to humanism ideals. I wish you success and happiness. Thanks for attention.
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors – Princess Feryal of Jordan, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, First Lady of Cameroon Shantal Biya talked of works done in their countries, noted necessity of increasing efforts for solution of education and health problems in the world. The goodwill ambassadors came to a conclusion to realize projects in the fields of education, healthcare and conservation of cultural heritage in the post-conflict and natural disaster zones and strengthen work in this course.
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyannis talked of works done in field of health, conditions created in her country – Greece for children affected with oncological diseases. She noted First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva met with those children and their parents in frame of state visit of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan to Greece early this year.
Upon completion of the meeting, goodwill ambassadors posed for photographs.
The UNESCO publications provided information about the activity of Azerbaijan and First Lady of Azerbaijan, Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva. These publications feature rich culture, historical heritage of Azerbaijan and Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s activity.
Following the meeting, UNESCO Director General Matsuura hosted a lunch in honor of goodwill ambassadors. During the lunch time, a film on the activity of UNESCO Director General and his visits to Azerbaijan was demonstrated. The film presented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation featured the activity of Matsuura and stressed his services in developing UNESCO.
After that, UNESCO Director General thanked Mehriban Aliyeva.
Mehriban Aliyeva presented Koichiro Matsuura a CD of the film made by Heydar Aliyev Foundation.