Inauguration of the Museum of Modern Art in Baku

On March 20, the Museum of Modern Art was opened in Baku. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva and Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura attended the opening ceremony.

First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the ceremony.

Speech by Mehriban Aliyeva:

Dear guests!

I sincerely congratulate you on Novruz Bairamy. I wish you days full of light, love and joy. I am very glad that very important stories happen in cultural and public life of our country on the eve of this holiday. As you know, “The World of Mugham” International Symposium has been proceeding for 2 days. This evening we will open the international mugham festival. Finally, today we are together inaugurating the Museum of Modern Art.    

Mr President, I express my special thanks to You for being with us today. I greet Director-General of UNESCO Mr Koichiro Matsuura in Azerbaijan. I express my deep gratitude to him for rendering care and attention to science, education and culture of Azerbaijan. I greet all guests having come to our country to attend the symposium and the festival. It is very nice to see here popular artists of Azerbaijan. The project advanced a year ago as a desire and idea has become a reality today. This place was a part of the multi-floor building newly constructed and today it is museum. The museum includes very valuable and unique exhibits of Azeri art and sculpture school. Successes and achievements of Azeri artists over the past 70 years are vividly reflected here. All art styles are presented in the museum, but major attention is paid to contemporary works. I hope, irrespective of profession and age, every visitor of the museum will feel a modern, new atmosphere here. I believe every visitor of the museum will be impressed by works here and worthily value this project of culture.  

Sourced from ancient times, Gobustan rock pictures the Azeri fine art deserves the highest place in the world for its professional value and artfulness. This, in its turn, is the best proof to rich history, cultural-moral origins, deep traditions of Azerbaijan, the land of fire and light.

Dear friends, I think there is no need for many words in such a place full of beauty and art. I again cordially congratulate you all on opening of this museum, wish endless achievements and health to all creative people. I deeply thank all the people who supported me in realization of this project. May this newly opened museum become the symbol of a new victory of Azeri culture and art.

Thank you so much!