UNESCO: Presentation on the Azerbaijani language in the framework of the International Mother Language Day

The International Mother Language Day was celebrated with a virtual event at the initiative of the Embassy of Bangladesh in France, jointly organized by the Embassy and the UNESCO Secretariat. The Permanent Delegation of our country took part in the event with a video presentation on the Azerbaijani language as a part of the "Year of Shusha".

24 UNESCO member states, including Azerbaijan, participated in the virtual event on Mother Language Day. UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini spoke about mother tongue, education and the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on education today. Then, videos prepared by the countries on the occasion of IMLD were broadcasted.

In accordance with the relevant Decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev to declare 2022 the "Year of Shusha" in Azerbaijan, our Permanent Delegation prepared a video presentation including the "Bayati-Shiraz" mugham that is a part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, performed by our young talented musician within the reorganized "Kharibulbul" music festival in 2021, in Shusha, the cradle of Azerbaijani music and cultural capital.

Diplomat of our Permanent Delegation Nigar Gurbanova gave a brief introduction about the Azerbaijani language, history and development of our language. She noted that the mother tongue is an integral part of culture and identity, as well as a carrier of values and knowledge. N.Gurbanova said that the mother language is vital for the preservation and transmission of traditions, expressions and songs that enrich our lives.

Noting that Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional country, the diplomat underlined that today more than 50 million people around the world speak Azerbaijani.

“Situated at the heart of historical Silk Road and intersection of East and West, North and South, Azerbaijan is considered to be a melting pot of different cultures and religions. This longstanding cultural and religious diversity has shaped out Azerbaijan’s model of peaceful co-existence and harmony of different cultures and religions. Representatives of all nationalities, ethnic minorities and groups in Azerbaijan are forming an information environment within a family and mutual understanding”, – said Nigar Gurbanova.

At the event dedicated to the International Mother Language Day, Azerbaijani diplomat recited an excerpt from the poem "Azerbaijan" of the famous Azerbaijani poet Samad Vurgun:

Könlüm keçir Qarabağdan,

Gah bu dağdan, gah o dağdan.

Axşamüstü qoy uzaqdan

Havalansın Xanın səsi,

Qarabağın şikəstəsi...

Posters prepared by our Permanent Delegation for the IMLD 2022 reflected the excerpt from the poem "Azerbaijan" by prominent Azerbaijani poet Samad Vurgun, as well as important information about the Azerbaijani language.

The virtual exhibition can be viewed via the following link:

https://www.eventsbangladeshinparis.fr/copy-2-of-home