Statue to Khurshidbanu Natavan inaugurated in Belgium

Baku. 19 February. REPORT.AZ/ A ceremony of inaugurating a statue to Khurshidbanu Natavan, Azerbaijan’s eminent poetess, took place in Waterloo city of the Kingdom of Belgium, with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Report informs citing the Foundation's press service.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Belgium Fuad Iskandarov noted that implementation of this project was possible thanks to the support by Azerbaijan’s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva. “The primary theme of verses by Khurshidbanu Natavan, who lived in the 19th century, was humanism, benevolence, friendship and love. Opening of a statue to Azerbaijani poetess and thinker Khurshidbanu Natavan is a significant event. And this important event is a new page in the humanitarian relations between Azerbaijan and Belgium”.

Mayor of the city of Waterloo Florence Reuter, in her speech, expressed her contentment in the cooperation built with Azerbaijan, and highly appreciated the erection of a statue to Khurshidbanu Natavan in this city.

It should be noted that the erection of a statue to Khurshidbanu Natavan in a city park of Waterloo, one of Belgium’s tourist destinations, with its special role in Europe’s history, is of significance in terms of promoting Azerbaijan’s history and culture around the world. A statue to Khurshidbanu Natavan, born in Shusha, also personifies the history of the Garabagh Khanate. On the pedestal of the statue is written: “The Orient’s modern educationist and poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan, a princess of Garabagh, Azerbaijan”. Erection of this statue - with notes about Garabagh engraved on - in Belgium is a contribution to the works carried out towards immortalizing the true facts about Azerbaijan, and its promotion throughout the world.

The statue erected in a central park of the city of Waterloo has been made by sculptor Imran Mehdiyev, led by People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Tahir Salahov.