Nargiz Gurbanova: "The Heydar Aliyev Foundation considers the projects for the restoration of historical monuments as symbols of friendship and peace"

This week in the Bulgarian city of Veliko-Turnovo, the first lady of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, was awarded with diplomas of the honorary citizen of the city of Veliko Tarnovo and an honorary doctorate from the St. Cyril and Methodius Veliko-Turnovo University. More than a year ago, on May 27th 2015, an agreement was signed in Sofia to provide the funds for the restoration and the subsequent conservation of the architectural and museum complex Trapezitza by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to the amount of 1.2 million euros. During the signing ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Elchin Efendiyev, stressed the special role played in the implementation of the project by the president of the Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and noted that the invested funds are the expression of a deep respect for the Bulgarian culture. The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Bulgaria, Nargiz Gurbanova, speaks about the aspects in which this role appears today.

-Did the old Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo win you over for the cause, which the foundation is dedicated to?

-Our Bulgarian friends know that as the capital of the 2nd Bulgarian Kingdom (XII – XIV century) Veliko Tarnovo was historically dubbed as “the Third Rome” due to its enticing beauty and influence all across South-eastern Europe. Trapezitsa was the spiritual centre of the kingdom.Azerbaijan is proud to support conservation efforts of the Bulgarian Government by helping to revive the splendour of this place so dear to the hearts of the Bulgarian people. Importantly, projects of restoration of historical monuments are viewed by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation as a symbol of friendship and peace.The project on the renovation of the Trapezitsa archaeological museum reserve envisages among other activities the expositional renovation of three churches, creating the cultural heritage interpretation centre, as well as exposition of archaeological sites. This project is the biggest open-air museum in Bulgaria and the Balkans, and the biggest investment by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the area of culture in South-east Europe. Together with Tsarevets complex, Trapezitsa will present to tourists the history and glory of the Medieval Bulgarian capital.

-As the activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Bulgaria are mostly related to the renovation of Trapezitsa, how would you introduce the work and philosophy of this foundation for the historical and cultural heritage? What projects does it undertake in Azerbaijan and outside of the country?

-The Heydar Aliyev Foundation was established in 2004 on the grounds of our nation’s wish to pay tribute to the memory and reflect the rich heritage of Heydar Aliyev, our national leader, who entered the history of Azerbaijan as a builder of an independent state.
Since its inception, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, chaired by our First Lady H.E. Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, aims to support socio-economic and humanitarian development within the country and abroad. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been actively participating in implementing numerous projects in areas such as education, culture, sports, public health, science and technology, environment. Charity is one of Foundation’s key priorities. The Foundation also places special emphasis on the mutual enrichment of various cultures and civilisations, expansion of dialogue among nations, and preservation of the traditions of tolerance. In different countries and cities around the world, the Foundation has successfully hosted more than 250 such events. Social projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in a number of cities of France, Germany, Italy, the Vatican, Belgium, Russia, Hungary, Romania, Pakistan, Turkey, contribute to bringing nations together and to successful co-existence of cultures.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite the Bulgarian friends to the Music in Stone international sculpture symposium to be organised by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation from September 24 until October 2 in Baku.

-Baku State University teaches Bulgarian Studies as a subject. What do people in Azerbaijan know about Bulgaria?

-Bulgaria has always been viewed as a friendly and familiar country by Azerbaijanis. Bulgaria’s contribution to the Slavic cultural heritage and traditions of Orthodox Christianity is well-known in Azerbaijan. This knowledge stems from the respect for the rich cultural and religious diversity that is part of the centuries-old traditions of tolerance in my country.
The Baku Slavic University (BSU) is the biggest higher education institution of its kind in the South Caucasus. The Bulgarian language has been taught at this university since 1996. In 2000 the faculty of Bulgarian studies was established. Currently, 50 students study at this faculty. Bulgarian is also taught as the second foreign language at the faculty of international relations at BSU. The Centre for the Bulgarian language and culture at the BSU has been in operation since 2004. Its mission is to strengthen cultural ties between our countries, promote the Bulgarian culture, language and history. The centre is also a host to a big library of more than 300 books, newspapers, magazines and audio-visuals in Bulgarian language.
In 2013 the centre for the Azerbaijani language and culture was opened at the Sofia University of St. Kliment Ohridski. The disciplines of the Azerbaijani language and multiculturalism in Azerbaijan have been incorporated in the Sofia University curriculum and are successfully being taught at the Centre.

-During your first visit to Veliko Tarnovo, you said the following: You have probably noticed that the relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria are at a very high level, and we would be proud if we retain and improve them in the future. How are those intentions looking now?

-Azerbaijan views Bulgaria as a strategic partner among EU and NATO member states. We enjoy high-level political cooperation. The two countries also support each other in multilateral formats. Last year my President H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev had a successful visit to Bulgaria. The Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed during this visit was an important contribution to broadening our interaction. It also highlighted the support to the fundamental norms and principles of international law, namely - sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognised borders of states. Earlier this year I was proud to accompany President of Bulgaria H.E. Rosen Plevneliev and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Daniel Mitov to Azerbaijan. Later this month, Baku will host the International Humanitarian Forum and we expect high-ranking Bulgarian officials at this event.
There is a broad bilateral agenda ahead and I am delighted to be able to contribute to further developing friendly relations between our countries.

-At the end of the month the joint Azerbaijan-Bulgaria intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation will resume its work in Baku with the visit of Bulgarian Minister of Economy Bozhidar Lukarski and Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova. What are the prospects before the two countries for further development of the cooperation in the fields of energy and economy?

-In fact, this year we will be witnessing the session of the bilateral economic commission between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan and it will be co-chaired, on the Bulgarian side by two ministers – Minister Lukarski and Minister Petkova, and on the Azerbaijani side Minister of Transport Ms Yememedov, will be hosting this event. We expect more than 95 participants from the Bulgarian side to come to Azerbaijan in the end of the month. You are absolutely right, this event presents an opportunity for us to take stock of all the issue and mutually beneficial cooperation topics that we could develop together and we look forward to the next session of this commission. As far as the areas of cooperation are concerned, we can say that trans-regional energy projects initiated by Azerbaijan over the past decade provide good opportunities for cooperation with Bulgaria in the field of energy. As the enabler of the Southern Gas Corridor, Azerbaijan is ready to contribute to the energy security of Europe and Bulgaria in particular. Definitely, among the issues to be discussed at this commission meeting are the potential cooperation in the area of pharmaceuticals, information and communication technologies, definitely transport, agricultural food processing, tourism, culture, education – these are all areas that do have prospects for our cooperation to develop, and Azerbaijan is ready to contribute to further enriching this agenda.

-You have previously stated that Bulgaria has a strategic location, just like Azerbaijan, and that it could be a bridge between the two continents. Through Bulgaria, Azerbaijan could receive access to the European markets, and vice-versa – through Azerbaijan, Bulgaria could receive access to the Asian markets.

-As I mentioned before, transport presents another promising area of interaction. Azerbaijan with its developed multi-modal transport infrastructure and strategic location along the North-South and East-West transport-transit corridors offers competitive transit opportunities for European freight and passenger shipments bound for Asia and vice versa. As a founding member of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank inaugurated last year, Azerbaijan is an important participant of the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative. We are also an indispensable player in the Black Sea-Caspian Sea-Persian Gulf Transport Corridor initiative recently launched by the Bulgarian partners. In view of the abovementioned, it is natural that Azerbaijan presents a gateway for Bulgaria to reach the Central Asian markets, just like Bulgaria is an important opportunity for us to reach the European markets. And among the projects that are worth mentioning would be the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, the strategic endeavour by the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to promote the alternative and competitive passenger and freight flow from China all across the region, through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey to Bulgaria. And we do believe that this project presents an important opportunity also for Bulgaria to participate and increasing the international trade transit volumes along this corridor. And as I mentioned with Azerbaijan’s infrastructure in port, railroads, airports, we do provide a good opportunity for our Bulgarian friends and partners to engage in mutually beneficial partnership projects on the territory of Azerbaijan and beyond.

-What are your personal impressions of Bulgaria? Is it easy to work here? How do you feel in our country?

-That is my favourite questions. I have been to Bulgaria for a little more than 6 month. It feels like home. I also enjoy close cooperation with the government officials at all levels. Sincerity, warmth and hospitality are definitely among the greatest features of the Bulgarian people. I have already travelled to Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Kazanlak, and Pavel Banya. These are all fascinating places worth re-visiting. The Bulgarian cuisine and folk music deserve a particular praise. All in all, Bulgaria is a wonderful place to live and work.