Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan's ancient city of Ganja has handed over a symbolic key of the European Youth Capital to Bulgarian city.

The second largest city and one of the most beautiful corners of the Land of Fire, Ganja delivered its duties to Varna.

At a ceremony to mark the end of Ganja`s mission as the 8th European Youth Capital – 2016, Head of the City's Executive Authority Elmar Valiyev passed the symbolic key to Varna Mayor Ivan Portnih.

Valiyev, addressing the event, noted that Ganja has hosted a large number of local and international projects in the capacity of the European Youth Capital.

“Over 250 projects have been implemented in the city throughout this year,” he said.

Varna Mayor Portnih, in turn, said he is happy that his city will fulfill the mission of the European Youth Capital in 2017. He praised Ganja`s successfully hosting numerous local and international projects.

The assignment of this title to Varna after Ganja is a great joy and responsibility, according to Protnih, who said that the two cities will cooperate more closely.

Deputy Youth and Sport Minister Intigam Babayev, in turn, also noted that Ganja successfully realized the project and appraised it as another achievement of the country.

He stressed that the activities carried out during the year allow get to know Azerbaijan and Ganja, and contributed to the acquisition of numerous friends.

Later, a cooperation charter was signed by Elmar Valiyev and Ivan Portnih. Both sides expressed their confidence that the agreement will contribute to strengthening cooperation and friendly ties between the two cities.

Portnih hailed Ganja`s excellently fulfilling the mission, saying Varna wants to benefit from the city`s experience as it was chosen as the European Youth Capital-2017.

This year dozens of European youth flooded back into Azerbaijan’s beautiful corner of Ganja, during which the city showcased its youth-related cultural, social, political and economic life and development through a multi-faceted program.

Ganja, with its ancient history of more than 4,000 years, is home to four universities, four colleges and 34 student organizations and youth NGOs. Sport is also developing in the city, as now it has an Olympic Complex with its modern sports equipment and infrastructures. About 30 percent of the city’s population is young people.

The city was also the capital of Azerbaijan, when the country first declared its independence in 1918, thus playing a leading role in the history of the country.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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