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July 3, 2017

Inauguration of the “Park of Azerbaijan” and the statue of Khurshidbanu Natavan takes place in France

Inauguration of the “Park of Azerbaijan” took place on the bank of Lemans Lake in France’s Evian city in the framework of the friendship and cooperation charter signed between Ismailli and Évian-les-Bains towns, following the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s initiative.

 

After the inauguration of the “Park of Azerbaijan” and the “Friendship Spring” in the park, a ceremony of opening of the statue of Khurshidbanu Natavan, an eminent Azerbaijani poetess, took place.

 

Mayor of Évian-les-Bains Marc Francina said this day was dedicated to the town of Ismailli. He said he has the honour of witnessing the inauguration of the “Park of Azerbaijan” and the statue of Khurshidbanu Natavan erected in the centre of the park, in the framework of the charter signed between the two towns. He noted that the erection of a statue of Khurshidbanu Natavan in Évian-les-Bains will serve strengthening cultural relations and mutual friendship between the two towns.

 

Head of Ismailli District Executive Authority Mirdamat Sadygov, congratulating the townspeople on the inauguration of the park, said that he took pride in the erection of a statue of Azerbaijan’s eminent poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan in Évian-les-Bains. He said the park Évian-les-Bains was opened in Ismailli and a special corner devoted to the friendly town has been created in the district museum. He thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva for the care and attention shown towards such projects.

 

Representative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Alakbar Guliyev brought to attention that the organization he represents has always attached great importance to the relations between the two countries, talking about the works carried out by the Foundation to promote our country’s culture. He mentioned the days of Azerbaijani culture in Paris in the framework of the “Village of Azerbaijan”, events dedicated to our country’s history and culture in the city of Cannes, translation of books associated with our history, culture and national cuisine into French with the support of the Foundation. He also mentioned about the cultural events held on a regular basis in various cities of France so that these two peoples could better know each other’s culture.

 

He talked about the Foundation’s support for the inauguration of the “Park of Azerbaijan”, the “Friendship Spring” and the statue of Khurshidbanu Natavan, emphasizing that inauguration of the “Park of Azerbaijan” and Natavan’s statue is great contribution to enriching relations between the two countries in the cultural sphere.

 

Adviser to Azerbaijan’s embassy in France for economic and regional affairs, charge d'affaires Elmar Mammadov talked about the high-level ties between our countries. It was noted that friendship and cooperation charters have been signed between 15 cities/towns of the two countries. A friendship and cooperation charter with Évian-les-Bains was signed in 2015, and in the same year, foundation of the Évian-les-Bains Park was laid in Ismailli. E.Mammadov, noting that the year 2016 had been declared “The Year of Multiculturalism” in Azerbaijan, talked about our country’s contribution to the intercultural and interreligious dialogue, and its becoming a platform of international significance in this sphere.

 

Providing the attendees of the event with detailed information about Shusha city, where Khurshidbanu Natavan was born, and the Garabagh region, the speaker noted that the “Park of Azerbaijan”, a symbol of friendship between the two towns, will contribute to the development of mutual cooperation, multiculturalism and dialogue among cultures. He thanked First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva for the contributions made to the strengthening of cultural relations between the two countries.

 

Attendees of the events thanked the authors of the statue of Khurshidbanu Natavan – Salhab Mammadov and Ali Ibadullayev – for the magnificent work they have created.

 

At the end of the ceremony, khanendeh Gunay Imamverdiyeva performed the popular song “Mountains of Shusha” and the song “Azerbaijan”, accompanied by Toghrul Asadullayev (kamancha) and Rovshan Gurbanov (tar). 


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