AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO HOLDS ROUND TABLE MEETING WITH KOICHIRO MATSUURA

Baku, March 20 (AzerTAc). Azerbaijan`s National Commission for UNESCO has arranged a round table meeting with UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura.
Chairman of the commission, Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov opened the event. He spoke of the Azerbaijan-UNESCO relations, praising President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva`s contribution to developing the cooperation between the country and the organization.
Azerbaijan Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev stressed the importance of “The World of Mugham” international festival to be held in Baku. Garayev also touched upon the issue of protection of cultural monuments, noting the importance of establishing a joint commission for safeguarding cultural monuments in Azerbaijan`s territories occupied by Armenia.
Other speakers, including Minister of Education Misir Mardanov, Minister of Communication and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov and Head of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children problems Hijran Huseynova highlighted results of projects co-implemented by the country and UNESCO.
Koichiro Matsuura highly praised the level of Azerbaijan-UNESCO cooperation, praising Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva`s contributions in this regard.
Matsuura awarded Azerbaijan People`s Artist Tahir Salahov with UNESCO`s Picasso Medal.
Salahov thanked the UNESCO chief for the award, saying “it proves how much attention UNESCO pays to Azerbaijan`s art, Azerbaijani painters.”
The Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO presented Koichiro Matsuura with a keepsake.