Solemn opening ceremony of culture year “Baku – the Capital of Islamic Culture – 2009” to be held tomorrow

Solemn opening ceremony of culture year “Baku – the Capital of Islamic Culture – 2009” will be held in Azerbaijan’s capital on February 18, APA reports. Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev held a press conference on this occasion. The minister said mayors from a number of European and Islamic countries, ministers and deputy ministers of four countries and culture ministers had been invited to the opening events. ISESCO Director General will also participate in the opening ceremony. Abulfas Garayev said the special event will be held in Heydar Aliyev Palace on February 18, festivities will be held in the central squares of the city, website of “Baku – the Capital of Islamic Culture – 2009” and “Old Baku” book will be presented within two days.
“Generally, over one hundred national and international events will be held within a year. The 4th conference of culture ministers of Islamic countries will also be held this year. Azerbaijan plans to invite a number of European states to the conference within the framework of “Baku process”. The events will serve the promotion of Azerbaijani culture on the international level and once more prove that Azerbaijan, which has unique geographic position at the junction of various cultures and civilizations, tolerance and peace traditions among communities and lives in the atmosphere of cultural and ethnic variety, plays the role of a bridge among civilizations,” he said.
Abulfas Garayev said commercials about “Baku – the Capital of Islamic Culture – 2009” were being broadcasted on CNN and Al Jazeera. Abulfas Garayev underlined that interesting events would be held within a year and said “open door” was announced in all museums and preserves by the end of the week.