I
am pleased to open the Azerbaijani cultural days in Switzerland together with Mr.
Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of the Swiss Confederation. I consider this event
as an important step in further developing bilateral relations between our
countries and nations in the humanitarian field. I believe that these cultural
days to be held in the course of October through December will bring our
nations even closer and will serve as a boost to strengthening of cooperation
between our countries.
I
welcome the initiative that this year Azerbaijan was chosen as a guest
country by the Culturescapes cultural festival which takes place in the Swiss
Confederation and I wish to the festival success in its work. This festival has
developed in Switzerland
a beautiful tradition that helps peoples get to know each other better as well
as it allows develop cultural relations between peoples.
The
programs which will take place in numerous cities and towns of Switzerland are
rich and varying. During the cultural
days the masterpiece of Azerbaijan
national music mugham will be performed, the belles-lettres and the fine arts
patterns, as well as carpet-making, rare pearls of theater and music arts will
be demonstrated. Thus, in the course of the event the Swiss public will take an
opportunity jointly to cast a glance at the ancient and multi-faceted culture
of Azerbaijan located on the
historical Silk Road.
I
hope that the culture of rapidly developing Azerbaijan,
which is based on cultural values of both the East and the West, will win a lot
of admirers in Switzerland
and will contribute to the process of inter-cultural dialogue.
We
attach particular importance to the development of our relations with Switzerland.
Just at the beginning of this year during my participation at World Economic
Forum in Davos I met Mr. Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of the Swiss
Confederation. At that meeting we held a detailed exchange of views on the prospects
of further improving our bilateral links.
I
highly appreciate holding this project of cultural days of Azerbaijan in Switzerland against the background
of widening cooperation between our countries in various fields. It is of
special significance that the inauguration of Azerbaijani cultural days
coincides with my official visit to Switzerland.
Taking the opportunity I express my gratitude to
President Hans-Rudolf Merz for inviting me on an official visit, and I thank the
Federal Government of Switzerland and Culturescapes for their assistance in
organizing the cultural days of Azerbaijan
here.
