Inauguration of the Village d’Azerbaijan took place in Paris, September 19, with organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Azerbaijan’s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva attended the event.
Arranged on the Joffre Square near Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Village d’Azerbaijan’s inauguration ceremony was attended also by well-known public and political figures of France.
The host of the event said the Village d’Azerbaijan was welcomed with great interest.
Rashida Dati, the mayor of the 7th Arrondissement of Paris, where the Village d’Azerbaijan was inaugurated, made a speech at the ceremony. The mayor expressed her gratitude for the village’s opening in the headed by her district.
Saying that she was hopeful the French people will have a chance to get more information, through this village, about our country, Rashida Dati talked about Azerbaijan’s hosting reputable international events, the contribution made by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to the development of relations between our countries, and that Azerbaijan was a modern country with ancient history.
Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the ceremony.
Then, President of the Association of the Friends of Azerbaijan in France Jean Francois-Mansell, making a speech, emphasized that this event has drawn the attention of all Parisians. Jean-Francois Mansell said Azerbaijan was a model of tolerance for the whole world. He noted that the Azerbaijani model of coexistence is spreading in France too. He underscored that the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Daghlyg Garabagh conflict should soon be settled, maintaining the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
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Thanking Jean-Francois Mansell for advocating the true facts about Azerbaijan in France, Mehriban Aliyeva added:
- Dear mister Mansell
Dear mister Mansell, I welcome you and all the members of the Association of the Friends of Azerbaijan from the bottom of my heart. I am very happy to see you.
In Azerbaijan, we very highly appreciate the activities of this Association. You present the true facts about Azerbaijan here, in France, as they are in reality.
I am very pleased that members of the Association are growing year-by-year, and this means that the number of friends of Azerbaijan in France increases.
I’m once more deeply grateful to you.
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The author of the photos included in the book “The Culinary Culture of Azerbaijan”, well-known American photographer living in France Peter Lipmann, delivering a speech, talked about how the book was created.
Then, familiarization with the Village d’Azerbaijan started. In popular art workshops arranged in the village, one can make himself closely acquainted with the process of carpet weaving, coppersmithery, making lattices, engraving on wood, pottery, creation of kelaghayi, and other art samples.
Another now-how in the village is the Child Zone. In the section comprised of a puppet theatre, workshop and resting zone, scenes built using puppets based on popular fairy tales are shown.
In the section of museum, exhibits related to our country’s old and rich history, and culture, including products of coppersmithery, national garments, music instruments, our carpets and other samples of art are displayed in the framework of the project “Cultural Treasures of Azerbaijan – A Pearl of the Caucasus”.
In the section “Icherisheher Traditional Art Centre”, works-batiks, ceramics, jewellery and engraving on wood, made by graduates of the centre, are demonstrated.
In the library zone of the Village, various publications of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation with comprehensive information about our country, including our people’s national and spiritual values, culture, art, history, and the true facts about Azerbaijan are demonstrated, are presented to visitors.
In the exhibition section of the Village, the exhibition “Tracing The Partisan” has been dedicated to Ahmadiyya Jabrailov, a participant of the World War 2, an eminent representative of the French Resistance Movement.
Mehriban Aliyeva met Javanshir Jabrailov, the son of Ahmadiyya Jabrailov. Javanshir Jabrailov thanked for the reverence shown towards his father.
At an exhibition opened within the framework of the project “Under The Single Sun”, photos dedicated to multiculturalism and tolerance in Azerbaijan, and a film with the same title are demonstrated. The photos and the film at the exhibition have been shot in various corners of Azerbaijan and here, the history, culture and traditions of 20 ethnic minorities are presented.
At the exhibition “Ganja and Gabala: Two Cities Through the Lens of French Photographers”, photos by French photographers Samuel Grataca and Jean-Franscois Rauzie, reflecting landscapes, monuments and daily lives of both the cities, are presented. The French photographers have written, in Ganja and Gabala, into the memories of their cameras beauties of the Azerbaijani nature, its unique culture and traditions.
In the Village, the project “The Centre of Tourism” is also presented for the first time. Here, comprehensive information is given about the tourist regions of Azerbaijan, and their itineraries.
Within the framework of the event, presentation of another publication of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation – a book entitled “The Culinary Culture of Azerbaijan” - took place. In the publication, comprehensive information is given about the historical roots of Azerbaijan’s national cuisine, and its rich cuisine culture.
This time, “Maiden Tower” International Art Festival is, for the first time, held in the Village d’Azerbaijan. After it was first held in the city of Cannes in 2013, the Festival is, for the second time, held beyond the boundaries of Azerbaijan. This time, “Maiden Tower” mock-ups, works of 4 French and 2 Azerbaijani artists, are displayed.
In the Village, visitors are presented also the stand “I Love Baku” - Azerbaijan’s first official keepsake and souvenir brand.
Here are also presented the Association of the Azerbaijani Friends in France.
Mehriban Aliyeva wrote her heartfelt words in the Guest Book.
The section where the Azerbaijani cuisine is promoted has also aroused much interest. Here is demonstrated the process of making our national cuisine’s dishes.
The performance by the State Dance Ensemble of Azerbaijan was welcomed with great interest.
And in a restaurant operating in the Village, the most delicious dishes of the Azerbaijani cuisine are presented.
The foodstuff fair arranged in the Village has also aroused much interest in visitors. Here are presented products of various foodstuff producers in Azerbaijan.
A mock-up of Icherisheher has been installed in the Village. This mock-up enables the visitors to make themselves visually acquainted with Icherisheher.
Being realized for the third time since 2014, this project aroused much interest among both French citizens and tourists, therefore, this time, the conception of the project “Village d’Azerbaijan” has been broadened. Starting to operate since September 17, the Village d’Azerbaijan will run until September 25.
Then, a banquet was given on behalf of Mehriban Aliyeva in honour of the event participants. Speaking at the event, Mehriban Aliyeva said she was delighted to meet in Paris again. She noted that the opening of the Azerbaijani village in the French capital will contribute to strengthening the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and France further.