The delegation led by Fuad Naghiyev, the Chairman of the State Tourism Agency held meetings with a number of senior officials of UNESCO and the World Heritage Center and permanent representatives of the member countries of the World Heritage Committee at UNESCO within the framework of an official visit to Paris, the capital of France.
During the meetings, held with Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO, as well as with Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences and Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the sides discussed the cooperation issues between Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency and the UNESCO.
In the meetings attended by Elman Abdullayev, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to UNESCO, ideas were exchanged on the prospects of cooperation between the State Tourism Agency and UNESCO. Fuad Naghiyev provided insight into the reforms carried out in the country in the field of tourism, as well as the work done in field of cultural heritage protection. In addition, the necessity of taking certain steps in the direction of strengthening the exchange of experience in the field of tourism with UNESCO was emphasized.
During the meetings, the State Tourism Agency has received an invitation to participate in the ceremony and exhibition dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the UNESCO Silk Road program to be held in Paris in April. Ms. Gabriela Ramos took the initiative to develop a new concept for creating a special UNESCO Silk Road label and to announce this project first in Azerbaijan. During the meeting, a preliminary agreement was reached regarding this initiative to hold a grand opening event in Baku in the summer of 2023.
During the meeting with Ernesto Ottone, Deputy Director General for Cultural Affairs of UNESCO, the discussions were held on researching and promoting the cultural heritage elements of Azerbaijan, especially archaeological heritage areas and elements.
At the meeting of the delegation headed by Fuad Naghiyev with the permanent representatives of the member countries of the World Heritage Committee at UNESCO, a presentation on the nomination file “Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and “Köç Yolu” Transhumance Route” was held. It was noted that the nomination document on "Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and "Transhumance Route" prepared for inclusion in the World Heritage List was prepared according to the III and V criteria of UNESCO: the document presents the nomadic culture of the people living in Khinalig and surrounding villages preserved since ancient times and its universal values.
The meeting was held between the staff of the State Tourism Agency and the leadership of the International Council on Monuments and Historical Sites (ICOMOS), and an exchange of views on the nomination document was held within the framework of the visit. It was emphasized that the nomination document “Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and “Köç Yolu” Transhumance Route”"revealed the need for a broad study of the nomadic cultural heritage around the world and the sides reached a preliminary agreement on launching joint scientific research within the cooperation between Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency and the ICOMOS.
