July 2, 2007

A ceremony of presentation of the first edition of the "Mugham" magazine and publications printed wihtin the framework of the "Mugham-Anthology" project

Presentation ceremony of the first issue of magazine Mugham, founded by Azeri Culture Friends Foundation, and works ‘Letter of Sharafiyya’ and ‘Kitabul-advar’ by Safiyaddin Urmavi (1217-1294), ‘Code of music’ by Fatullah Shirvani (1417-1486) published within the Mugham-Anthology Project took place on July 2 at Heydar Aliyev Foundation.


President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the ceremony.


Speech by Mehriban Aliyeva:


Dear ladies and gentlemen!


Dear guests!


I greet you at Heydar Aliyev Foundation. I am very glad to see you here. First, I would like to congratulate you all on the two great victories of Azerbaijan.


As you know, the 23rd Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championship was very successfully held in our country and our athletes gained very big assets in these competitions. Our national team won the bronze medal, our gymnast Aliya Garayeva took the golden medal and became European champion.


Of course, it is very big victory of Azerbaijani sport. Today, our country is among 5 leading countries of the world in rhythmic gymnastics and I cordially congratulate you on this occasion.


At the same time, very remarkable event happened in cultural life of Azerbaijan. As you know, Gobustan State History and Art Reserve has been included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. This decision was adopted in the 31st session of UNESCO World Heritage Commission in New Zealand and I consider that this also is very big victory to us. Because it means Gobustan is very significant, very valuable historical and cultural monument not for Azerbaijan only but for whole universe. Just our historical monument has been selected among many candidates and I sincerely congratulate you on this occasion.


Dear guests!


Today we present magazine Mugham to you. In multicentury history of mugham this is the first magazine dedicated to mugham entirely and at the same time very big present for all mugham lovers. The magazine has been published in 3 languages – Azeri, English and Russian and it has much expanded the area of distribution of the magazine. I believe it will find its readers not in Azerbaijan only but in a number of countries of the world as well. 


As you know, Heydar Aliyev Foundation implements some projects to support mugham such as Mugham-Irs, World of Mugham, Encyclopedia of Mugham, Mugham-Internet, Mugham-Destgah, Mugham-Anthology. You can obtain detailed information on all these projects in this magazine.


Lately, there is very big interest and support towards mugham in our country. it is very good that our youth also value the art of mugham as a wealth delivered to us through centuries. We should protect this wealth and at the same time deliver it to future generations. We have founded this magazine just for this purpose and it will serve this goal.


At the same time, 3 new books are presented to you. Publication of them is result of joint action of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Manuscripts Institute of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. These publications are available as book and CD and big contribution for music critics studying mugham. We keep cooperating with Manuscripts Institute and I believe new publications will be developed in near future and presented to readers.


Today I would like to say with great happiness that construction of International Mugham Center in our capital is continued. You may remember well, we were together discussing this project. We together selected an architectural project. It is very nice and modern building suitable to our traditions. Mugham Center will be opened in early 2008. I am confident this center will become the house of art, mugham school, mugham museum and also a monument dedicated to our music.


Mugham has a special place in fate of everyone here. Many of you dedicate almost your whole life to the art of mugham. I cordially congratulate you on release of such a magazine. I believe our new magazine will inspire studies on mugham and also popularize mugham. I express my gratitude to all people cooperating with us in development of this magazine and other projects on mugham and supporting us. I wish you good health, success and happiness. 


Thank you so much.