Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev met on June 19 with ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz bin Osman al-Tuveycri, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan to participate in the opening event in connection with the announcement of Nakhchivan city as the Capital of Islamic Culture in 2018, Azertag reported.

During the meeting, Abulfaz Garayev spoke about the work done recently in the field of cooperation with ISESCO. The minister drew attention to the fact that Azerbaijan is one of the members that differ in their position in this organization.

That is the result of the activities carried out by Azerbaijani state, personally President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva in strengthening ties with the Islamic world, the country's integration into the Muslim world and culture.

The Minister also informed on the work done in connection with the 6th Conference of Culture Ministers of OIC Member States, adopted in October 2009 in Baku, to announce the city of Nakhchivan as the "Capital of Islamic Culture" for 2018. According to the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan of June 2, 2016, the Organizing Committee was established in connection with the declaration of Nakhchivan as the "Capital of Islamic Culture". At the meeting of the Organizing Committee held on November 25, 2016, the Action Plan was approved and its execution is carried out.

Nakhchivan, one of the centuries-old cultural center of the world will be proclaimed Capital of İslamic Culture 2018 on June 20.

The event will be attended by numerous authoritative guests, state officials, including the Secretary General of TURKSOY, the Ministers of Culture of Indonesia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Algeria, the Deputy Ministers of Culture of Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Qatar, as well as delegations of other countries.

Garayev highlighted the importance of ISESCO's activity as a partner structure in the propaganda of this significant event on an international scale.

Abdulaziz bin Osman al-Tuveycri stressed the cooperation between ISESCO and Azerbaijan, the exceptional role and support of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva in the development of these ties.

Issues of mutual cooperation were discussed at the meeting.

Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev also met with the Culture Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Sayfullaev thje same day.

At the meeting Garayev expressed gratitude to the guest for having agreed to take part in the forthcoming ceremony in Nakhchivan.

He also stressed the sustainable development of mutual cultural ties between two countries.

"Today we have entered a new stage of restoration and development of ties. We should continue cultural cooperation in a new format, ensure the further development of cultural ties between our friendly countries. The ancient historical roots that unite our peoples have always ensured the dynamic development of these relations, " he said.

Uzbekistan's Culture Minister Bakhtiyor Sayfullaev voiced his satisfaction with participation in the event in connection with the announcement of Nakhchivan as the Capital of Islamic culture 2018.

Uzbekistan is interested in building comprehensive relations with both international organizations and with neighboring states, in particular, Turkic-speaking countries. Bakhtiyor Sayfullaev stressed that his country also contributes to the development of these ties.

Further, Abulfaz Garayev informed the guest about Azerbaijan's relations with international organizations, joint projects implemented with ISESCO and TURKSOY.

Issues of development of bilateral cultural ties were discussed at the meeting.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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