Days of Azerbaijan were held in the city of Vannes, France
Days of Azerbaijan were held within the project “Cultural Treasures of Azerbaijan – the Pearl of Caucasus” in the city of Vannes, France, with organizational support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and assistance by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in France.
Delivering a speech at the opening of the exhibition organized at the city’s lycee of Saint-Paul, Mayor David Robo expressed his regret that Azerbaijan, a country with natural resources and cultural treasures, was little known in France, with different communities, and underlined that there was some similarities between Vannes’s location close to the ocean and Azerbaijan’s at the sea shore. He underlined that our country was a member of the Council of Europe, and close relationship will be established with Baku in near future.
Talking of Britanny region’s primary role in France’s agriculture, provision with food products, D.Robo emphasized the importance of cooperation between our countries in various spheres, including building relations with Azerbaijani universities.
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbayov mentioned that the city of Vannes was the twelfth city of France, where an exhibition and a concert was held within the Days of Azerbaijan with organizational support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The Ambassador said he was pleased that the exhibition and concert in connection with the Days of Azerbaijan was held in Vannes, the pearl of the Britanny region and the main city of Morbihan department, and such events would be held in 19 more cities of France, and said our country’s relations with France developed in all spheres, including culture. He noted that regular days of culture are arranged in Paris in connection with our country, the language of Azerbaijan is taught in education establishments of France. The diplomat mentioned that the largest French school in Caucasus is being constructed in Baku.
Underlining the rapid development of Azerbaijan’s economy, the Ambassador said our country was the leading state of Caucasus, and noted that after regaining its independence, Azerbaijan has been confidently moving forward on the path of building a secular state based on democratic values.
Saying that Azerbaijan had its own traditions with regard to the Jazz music to be performed at the concert, E.Amirbayov talked of the development of this music after the World War II, creation of Jazz-Mugham synthesis by Azerbaijani Jazzman Vagif Mustafazadeh and successful performances of Azerbaijani musicians at international Jazz festivals.
Residents of the city viewed the items of pottery and coppersmith art, carpets and kilims, khurjuns, ancient women’s and men’s garments with special interest. They were distributed brochures and books about the history, culture and art of Azerbaijan.
Director of Vannes’s tourism department Bruno Bodaro said the exhibition was both interesting and memorable: “Although Azerbaijan is not well known in France, we could receive some information about your country’s history and rich culture through the exhibits displayed at the exhibition. The silence dominating at the exhibition is the sign of interest shown by visitors towards the exhibits. I would like to thank the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the organizer of the exhibition.”
