Work is underway toward declaring Ganja and Baku the UNESCO World Book Capital in the near future, Deputy Minister of Culture Saadat Yusifova said at the conference held on the occasion of the World Book and Copyright Day within the framework of the Year of Heydar Aliyev.
The conference was themed “Ancient texts and classical sources expose the forgeries and fabrications of Armenianism, or the truths of Zangazur, the ancient Azerbaijani-Turkic land”.
According to the ministry official, April 23 - World Book and Copyright Day, established by UNESCO 26 years ago, is celebrated in over 100 countries: “Ancient Ganja, which gave the world a genius like Nizami Ganjavi, as well as the capital Baku, are famous for their rich book traditions. Taking into account their potential chances, relevant work is being done to declare these cities the UNESCO World Book Capitals in the near future.”
Yusifova said that books have been carriers of knowledge since their inception and played an exceptional role in the formation of human history and culture: “The role played by the Azerbaijani people over the centuries has had its positive influence on the historical processes in the world at all times, being an integral part of the intellectual content and products of the Eastern renaissance. The people of Azerbaijan have a rich literary heritage that goes back to ancient times. Our people have given Azerbaijan and world literature such great figures as Nizami Ganjavi, Fuzuli, Khatai, Vagif, Natavan, and Samad Vurgun.”