“HorraPress”: Azerbaijan’s cultural diplomacy and Mehriban Aliyeva’s beautiful acts

“HorraPress” European Free Press Centre has published an article of the Azerbaijan-Iberia-America think tank (CEPAI) entitled “Azerbaijan’s cultural diplomacy and Mehriban Aliyeva’s beautiful acts”. 

The article is about the cultural diplomacy pursued by the Azerbaijani leadership, especially First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva. 

It is stated in the material that First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva made sharing on her Instagram page about launching the projects of restoration of religious monuments and mosques on the ancient Karabakh soil.  “HorraPress” quotes from the said sharing by Mehriban Aliyeva: “Recent days we have all been experiencing the pride and joy of restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Having been under occupation for about 30 years, our lands were liberated thanks to the courage of our brave soldiers and officers under the leadership of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev. 

Since the very first day of its activity, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been implementing projects and programmes covering different areas in Azerbaijan. The Foundation’s activities towards preservation and restoration of historical, cultural and religious monuments is well-known. And today, I want, with the feeling of pride, to inform you that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has launched its project on restoration of our religious monuments, mosques – a national wealth of the Azerbaijani people – on the ancient Karabakh soil. Restoration, conservation and reconstruction of our sanctuaries located in the region will be carried out in the framework of the project, involving local and foreign specialists. Works on the restoration of places of religious service in Shusha city and Aghdam district that were destroyed during the years of occupation have already started. 

Once savagely destroyed by Armenians, turned into a stall, our sacred religious sites will be revived, and azan will be heard from our mosques and prayers read on Karabakh’s territory!”

“HorraPress” brings to the attention of readers that First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has been making great contribution to promoting the country abroad, implementing the social policy, and development of science, education, culture, and sports.  Projects implemented on the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva aim at preserving and strengthening of national values, and propagation of the principles of humanism. 

Mehriban Aliyeva’s activity towards advancing the relations between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the UNESCO is underscored especially, noting that this activity was of great importance in terms of advocating for intercultural and interreligious dialogue on an international level.  As a recognition of the activities of the first lady of Azerbaijan, she was elected a goodwill ambassador for the promotion and preservation of intangible cultural heritage in 2004. 

It is stated that as a result of implementing the policy developed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the activity of First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva as a goodwill ambassador, the Azerbaijani mugham,  Azerbaijan’s ashyg art,  traditional Azerbaijani carpet-making art, traditional Chovkan horseback game,  making of kelaghay-a women’s headscarf,  and the art of dressing and symbolic, Lahyj copper-smithery,  Nowruz Bayram, traditions of making  lavash, katyrma,  zhupka,  yufka –  thin bread types, preparation of dolma were entered on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.  In 2019, the historical centre of ancient Azerbaijani city Sheki and the Palace of Sheki khans was entered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. 

On the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been providing assistance to the development of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, and deepening of bilateral relations with other countries in the humanitarian sphere.  It is noted in the article that in 2019, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation allocated funds for the restoration of five stained-glass windows of the Strasbourg Cathedral Church related to the 14^th century in the framework of the project “Address of Tolerance-Azerbaijan”.  In 2012, the Foundation carried out restoration of Marceline and Pietro catacombs. 

“HorraPress” states that as a result of the works done in the field of tolerance and dialogue, Pope Francis called Azerbaijan a bridge between civilizations when he was to the Saint Virgin Mary Church during his visit to Azerbaijan in 2016. 

All the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation once more proves that Azerbaijan,  the initiator of the Baku process, has been making contribution to peace and security all over the world by its activity in the sphere of strengthening cooperation between various peoples and cultures and promotion of efficient dialogue, advancing values of cultural diversity,  playing a significant part in the advancement of mutual understanding  between civilizations, multiculturalism and dialogue. 

The public and political activity of Mehriban Aliyeva has been playing a matchless role in formation of an active and secular Azerbaijani woman’s image.