Another event was held in the city of Colmar of Alsace region in connection with the Days of Azerbaijan in France
Another event associated with the “Days of Azerbaijan” being held in France within the framework of the project “Cultural Treasures of Azerbaijan – the Pearl of Caucasus” with the objective of promoting Azerbaijan in France, with organizational support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and assistance by the Embassy of our country in France took place in the city of Colmar of the Alsace region.
The event started with the inauguration of an exhibition reflecting our country’s history and cultural values. Deputy Mayor of the city Marianna Shelkova brought to attention that Azerbaijan was rich not only in subsoil natural resources, but it also is the pearl of Caucasus with its rich history and culture.
Mentioning that although Azerbaijan has been through a difficult period after the breakup of the USSR, its economy experienced rapid development due to the reforms implemented in the country, the Deputy Mayor underlined that Azerbaijan, playing the role of a bridge between the East and the West and being located on the “Silk Way”, had significant strategic importance.
Valuing culture as an art of life, M.Shelkova said our culture played a matchless role in bringing nations closer and establishing friendly relations.
Welcoming the city officials, visitors and participants of the exhibition, Ambassador of Azerbaijan in France Elchin Amirbayov noted that the project “Cultural Treasures of Azerbaijan – the Pearl of Caucasus” initiated to promote Azerbaijan’s old history and rich culture in regions and provinces of France was organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and the project’s implementation started since the end of 2012. He said, under this project, Days of Azerbaijan had been held in other two cities – Melouse and Strasbourg – a little earlier than in Colmar.
Mentioning that Azerbaijan was in a location, where civilizations meet, the Ambassador said although Baku, the capital of our country, was known as an oil centre in the world, our country’s national and historic treasures were as rich as our subsoil natural wealth, and expressed a hope the exhibits displayed at the exhibition would be of special significance for residents of Colmar to discover Azerbaijan.
In his speech, first deputy President of the Regional Council of Alsace, Senator Andre Richard mentioned his visit to Azerbaijan with a group of senator-colleagues and the impressions the visit has made upon him. The Ambassador emphasized that although our country was young with over 20 years of independence, it has been known throughout the world not only with its oil, but also rich cultural treasures, development of tourism in our country would give the French to become better acquainted with Azerbaijan, and underlined the necessity of endeavours towards making the nations know each other closer.
As Baku, Sheki, Ganja and Gabala have differences in their traditions, talking of the unique features that make Alsace different from other regions of France, the Senator noted that his country was interested in developing relations that would serve universal ideas between nations, especially economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and France, along with the established friendly ties.
Touching upon the issue of unemployment in France, the Senator said there was advantageous conditions for Azerbaijan investors too to invest in his country, including the region of Alsace, and this would play a significant role in the development of partnership, relations between countries and, in particular, cultural relations between nations.
A. Richard called mass media to broadly cover the event associated with Azerbaijan.
Scheduled to continue through February 24, the exhibition displays exhibits reflecting our nations’ history and cultural treasures.
Then, opening the concert of Azerbaijani Jazz music organized at the municipal theatre of the city, Mayor of the city Gilbert Mayer expressed a hope that cultural treasures of Azerbaijan – the Pearl of Caucasus – would greatly impress upon residents of Colmar, emphasized the richness of our country’s history and cultural treasures, and said exhibits displayed at the exhibition – woman garments, carpets and carpet-bags and musical instruments would describe Azerbaijan as a country with old history.
Underlining the modernization of our young country after the breakup of the USSR, the Mayor said the rapid development of Azerbaijan’s economy in a short span of time may be a true example for a number of countries, and that the music of mugham was, as an intangible cultural heritage, entered by UNESCO on the list of masterpieces.
Mentioning the grandiose event held last year in Paris to mark the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between France and Azerbaijan, the Mayor underlined that France was the second country to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence, a number of French companies were working in our country, and expressed a hope that today’s event, which unites two nations, will serve strengthening the relations between Azerbaijan and France further.
Ambassador Elchin Amirbayov said he was sure the concert will give a chance to residents of Colmar to physically travel to the rich music world of our country, and said France was a significant partner for our country. Mentioning that Jazz music talked of Azerbaijan’s rich cultural traditions, E. Amirbayov noted that the jazz-mugham was associated with the names of well-known Azerbaijani jazzmen Vagif Mustafazade and Rafik Babayev, classic jazz and the traditional music of mugham were improvised, and said young Azerbaijanis successfully performing at international jazz festivals were graduates of Baku Jazz School, and that currently this music is developing in our country.
At the concert, along with popular songs, works by European masters of jazz were performed by young masters of art.
