France, Paris, 21 May / corr. Trend Y. Aliyev/ Azerbaijan still maintains its ancient culture and traditions, Mehriban Aliyeva, the first lady of Azerbaijan and good-will Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, said in the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris in her speech for the concert program entitled Good-Will Angels of Azerbaijan.
The Good-Will Ambassador of UNESCO Mehriban Aliyeva said that the economy of Azerbaijan is developing with fast growth rates and poverty has decreased up to 19%. Great attention is attached to the education, health, culture in Azerbaijan, and a number of economic projects are being carried out and the construction of schools is widely spread. "A serious damage has been inflicted to the Azerbaijani culture due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia has destroyed many ancient cultural and historical monuments after occupying Nagorno-Karabakh region," said first lady of Azerbaijan.
The Secretary General of UNESCO Koitiro Matsuura said that the good-will ambassadors are the most active participants of UNESCO family and Mehriban Aliyeva should be especially mentioned in this regard. According to the Secretary General, the culture of Gubustan and art of mugam has made a big impression on him.
A concert with the performance of the children's symphonic orchestra and choir of Azerbaijan was held following the speech.
The work of art of the Azerbaijani children (5-15 years) was organized in the headquarters of UNESCO.
The first lady of Azerbaijan, MP Mehriban Aliyeva is the president of the Heydar Aliyev foundation and Fund of Cultural Friends of Azerbaijan which carry out large-scale projects and various events.
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