Ceremonial opening of the Nizami Ganjavi Garden on the occasion of the 870th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker was held in St.-Petersburg on June 5.
Heydar Aliyev Foundation Vice President Leyla Aliyeva attended the ceremony.
In her opening remarks Aliyeva said opening the Nizami Ganjavi Garden is one more project of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's Representation in Russia implemented jointly with the St.-Petersburg Administration. "Presidents Heydar Aliyev and Vladimir Putin attended the opening of a monument to the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker of the 12th century in St.Petersburg on June 9, 2002. The monument was prepared in Baku and gifted by Azerbaijani people to St.Petersburg. Azerbaijani sculptor, a graduate of the Mukhin Leningrad School, Gayrush Babayev, created the philosopher poet's character. This year will see the poet's 870th birthday. Under the patronage of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's Representation, unique granite benches and piano with fragments from Nizami's poems were installed in the garden and the monument to the poet was restored on this occasion. Upon the St.Petersburg Governor's decree, this wonderful garden was named in Nizami Ganjavi's honor," Aliyeva said.
She thanked the city authorities for support and voiced her hope that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's Representation in Russia and the St.Petersburg Administration will carry out many interesting projects.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu told the prehistory of establishment of a monument to Nizami Ganjavi in St.Petersburg. He noted that even during the tough years of the World War II the intelligentsia of Russia's northern capital marked the great poet's 800th jubilee. The ambassador thanked all those who participated and supported the establishment of a monument in St.Petersburg.
"This monument and garden symbolizes the friendship and relations, which Azerbaijan and Russia have today," he underscored.
Deputy Chairman of the St.Petersburg Government's Committee on Culture Alexander Platunov spoke about significance of this event for St.Petersburg residents and for strengthening friendly relations between Russian and Azerbaijani peoples.
Deputy Executive Director of Russian Azerbaijani Congress Ilgar Hajiyev also noted tremendous significance of such actions in strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the two nations.
Azerbaijan's Consul General in St.Petersburg Gudsi Osmanov attributed the opening of the garden as an important event in the life of Azerbaijani community of Russia's northern capital.
According to Osmanov, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's Representation in Russia implements many projects in Russia, including a monument erected to legendary Farman Salmanov, memorial stele to Azerbaijani heroes on Neva pitch, and today this garden named after Nizami Ganjavi is opening here. "The monument was gifted to St.Petersburg residents and it is also a gift to residents of Azerbaijani origin," Osmanov underscored. He thanked the Administration for support.
Afterwards, Aliyeva cut the symbolic red ribbon and put flowers at the monument to the Great Azerbaijani poet.
