Book-album Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in Collections of Azerbaijan ceremonially presented at Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku
The activities of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan have been presented to Azerbaijani intelligentsia.
On January 25, a ceremonial evening was held at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku as part of the Days of Uzbek Science and Culture. The event featured an exhibition of publication projects by the World Society, as well as the presentation of the illustrated book album Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the Collections of Azerbaijan, which contains rarest examples of Uzbek art stored at the Fuzuli Institute of Manuscripts under the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, National Museum of Art of Azerbaijan, National Museum of History of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Carpet Museum.
The event was attended by the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, directors of museums and libraries, research institutes, prominent representatives of science and culture in Azerbaijan, more than fifteen hundred people in total. He presented the project Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections and a documentary about the initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to preserve and study the cultural heritage of our country.
Scholars noted that the project Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections have made it possible to assemble a unique factual material, which today serves as the basis for further in-depth research into the Uzbek heritage around the world.
"We are proud to be a part of the World Society and the research conducted by our specialists for the publication of the book-album Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the Collections of Azerbaijan," said Academician Nailya Velinhanly, General Director of the Museum of History of Azerbaijan. "The centuries-old ties between our peoples have resulted in the formation of a rich cultural layer, which today we carefully preserve and study! All this becomes possible thanks to efforts by and support from the heads of our states in solving cultural and spiritual issues. These issues are priorities in both Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. We are happy for new generations of researchers, who will be able to acquaint themselves with the historical heritage through these books!"
Academician Teymur Hashim oglu Kerimli, Director of the Muhammad Fuzuli Institute of Manuscripts, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, noted that the basis for cooperation between the Fuzuli Institute of Manuscripts and the World Society was laid back in 2022.
"We are pleased to receive such a generous gift for the library of our Institute - the next 15 volumes of the series of book-albums. Yesterday, within the framework of the Days of Uzbek Science and Culture in the Republic of Azerbaijan, we held the round table "Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan: Dialogue of Cultures", and today we are all standing together on the stage of the Heydar Aliyev Center and having an excellent opportunity to present our common work, our book Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the Collections of Azerbaijan and discuss with our friends from Uzbekistan prospects for our further cooperation! Thank you Uzbekistan!"
"The National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan is taking the initiative to implement a new project in cooperation with the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan. The new album will be published within the Architectural Epigraphy of Uzbekistan series and is dedicated to inscriptions on monuments in Azerbaijan. Trust between our peoples, common historical roots, the contribution of the outstanding Alisher Navoi, whom we consider not only an Uzbek, but also an Azerbaijani poet and educator, - all this allows us to implement new projects aimed at improving the spirituality of our fellow citizens. In this respect, the projects of the World Society are a unique experience for expanding the common heritage of our countries and peoples," said Isa Gabibbeyli, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.
The presentation also included a ceremony of awarding certificates of appreciation to more than 20 scholars from Azerbaijan who have participated in the work on the new book-album on behalf of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan (WOSCU). The diplomas were presented to the scholars by Academician Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Editorial Board of the project Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Chairman of the Board of the World Society, and WOSCU specialists.
The welcoming speech of Bakhtiyor Fazylov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the World Society, head of Eriell Group, a sponsor company for the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections project, was read at the ceremony. In his address, he expressed sincere gratitude to the scholars, management and staff of the museums of Azerbaijan, who carefully preserve and study priceless exhibits, opening up new facets of the glorious history and culture of Uzbekistan to the world:
"We are going to continue to support projects aimed at expanding our relations and strengthening their solid foundation based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and trust."
The unique masterpieces published by the World Society will now decorate the Heydar Aliyev Center, since representatives of the Center were awarded certificates for 50 volumes of the books-albums in the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections series. A collection of books has been donated to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan and the Cinematography Agency of Azerbaijan became a landmark in the Days of Science and Culture ceremony. The document was signed by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Cinematography Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Orkhana Fikret oglu, Director of the Cinematography Agency under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The participants were informed about the film Maksoud Sheikhzada, which is going to be made jointly by Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
"The Heydar Aliyev Center, in cooperation with the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan and with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Azerbaijan, has become an excellent platform for the presentation of research and cultural projects implemented in the New Uzbekistan. One of such important initiatives was the instruction of the esteemed President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to create a cycle of 50 historical films about Uzbekistan, titled The Living History and dedicated to the life and activities of historical figures in our country. One of the films included in the draft program designed for 7 years was the co-production film Maksoud Sheikhzada. Last year, the Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan signed a number of memoranda with foreign countries, and the new year of 2024 has been marked by the important signing of a memorandum on the creation of the film Maksoud Shaikhzada in cooperation with the Cinematography Agency of Azerbaijan. We believe that this co-production will grow popular with the peoples of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan and will become an important contribution to the preservation of common cultural ties between our peoples," said Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director General of the Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Board of WOSCU.
The official part closed with a bright and spectaculr concert prepared by the Ministry of Culture of Uzbekistan, with the participation of People's Artist of Uzbekistan Farrukh Zakirov, Uzbek pop star Ozoda Nursaidova, People's Artist of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan Gulyanag Mammadova and famous opera singer, People's Artist of Uzbekistan Ramiz Usmanov.