Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Germany's port city of Hamburg hosted a cultural event aimed at promoting Azerbaijan's culture on December 5.

The event dubbed "An Evening of Azerbaijan" was organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, with assistance of Azerbaijan's embassy in Germany.

Along with two exhibitions held in historical Börsensaal, the evening also featured a concert by virtuosic Azerbaijani jazz performer Isfar Sarabski.

Photos of the exhibition "Germans in Azerbaijan" reflected the life, household and labor of German nationals settled in Goygol region of Azerbaijan - Helenendorf (Goygol), Annenfeld (Shamkir), Georgsfeld (Chinarly), and Grunfeld (Vurghun) settlements. They had mainly been engaged in wine-making.

Another exhibition displayed paintings drawn by young Azerbaijani artists that have never been to Germany, reflecting their imaginations of the country.

Delivering a speech before the concert, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Germany Parviz Shahbazov spoke about dynamic development of the relations between the two countries.

He emphasized that in addition to being a country with oil and gas resources, Azerbaijan had also rich cultural and musical traditions, and that the first opera and first ballet in the Muslim Orient were created in Azerbaijan.

Shahbazov said mugham, jazz and pop music were very popular in Azerbaijan, noting that mugham has been entered in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Referring to the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he brought to the attention of the audience that Karabakh, which is considered to be the cradle of Azerbaijan's culture, has been occupied by Armenia. He added that hundreds of cultural monuments of world importance have been demolished by Armenian armed forces.

Shahbazov thanked Azerbaijan's First Lady, who is also President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, for the organization of the event.

He went on to note that, in addition to implementing many social and cultural projects, the Foundation has also greatly contributed to expansion of ties between Germany and Azerbaijan.

The host of the event, Germany's well-known TV reporter Joe Flexner also gave some information about Azerbaijan before the concert.

He emphasized that the first parliamentary republic in the East was established in Azerbaijan in 1918, and that women in Azerbaijan were granted the right to vote before women in Europe could enjoy the right.

Talking of projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in other countries, Joe Flexner underscored the Foundation's participation in restoration of historical churches in Strasbourg and Paris, and Rome catacombs, as well as the Berlin Castle demolished during the World War II.

The guests were also briefed on the activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and its head Mehriban Aliyeva in regards to developing Baku's cultural relations with other countries, and promotion of Azerbaijan's rich and old culture throughout the world.

The event continued with a concert by Isfar Sarabski's jazz ensemble.

The guests were later presented with dishes from Azerbaijan's national cuisine, as well as publications by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation on Azerbaijan's history, culture and art, and CDs with Azerbaijani mugham, jazz, and classic music.