The International Cultural Diplomacy Forum was held at NSU

The International Cultural Diplomacy Forum was held at Nakhchivan State University. The event was organized under the auspices of the Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality, organized by the Erzurum Diplomatic Research Center Association, the Consulate General of Turkey in Nakhchivan, the Consulate General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kars, Yunus Amre Institute and Nakhchivan State University in partnership.

Before the event, the memory of the martyrs who died for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan was commemorated with a minute of silence, and the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Turkey were played.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Ergun Engin, Chairman of the Board of the Center for Economic and Foreign Policy Research of Turkey, emphasized that Azerbaijan and Turkey have a common culture, history and geography. He noted that Nakhchivan State University is one of the important higher education institutions where Turkish students study, and drew attention to the importance of academic cooperation and student-teacher exchange between universities.

Rector of Nakhchivan State University Elbrus Isayev emphasized in his speech that historical and cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Turkey are further strengthened by cooperation in the field of education. The Rector drew attention to the expansion of NSU's international relations, especially to the development of cooperation with the prestigious higher education institutions of Turkey. He said that the regular involvement of Turkish professors in the teaching process at the university makes an important contribution to the development of students' knowledge and skills, and the sharing of academic experience. At the same time, the participation of Azerbaijani students and professors in mobility programs creates conditions for the strengthening of scientific and educational relations between universities. Elbrus Isayev also noted the importance of such forums in terms of protection and promotion of common cultural heritage.

Ayşe Şengül Yıldırım, deputy consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Nakhchivan, said that the forum is not only a platform for exchanging ideas, but also the beginning of new friendships and cultural projects. He expressed confidence that the event will contribute to the strengthening of cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the wider recognition of the role of Nakhchivan in the Turkic world, and the transfer of common historical memory and cultural heritage to future generations.

The forum continued with discussions on three main panels. The panels discussed the issues of public diplomacy, media and communication, historical memory, geocultural relations, preservation of intangible cultural heritage, shared identity, cultural affiliation and representation of culture in the digital age.

Ali Riza Karabagh, Head of the Chair of Turkish Culture and Art of the Yunus Emre Institute, Nazli Yagubova, a teacher of the Chair of International Relations of Nakhchivan State University, Zakir Avshar, a professor of Ankara Haji Bayram Veli University, Ibrahim Ethem Atnur, a professor of the Republican History Chair of the National Defense University of Turkey and other participants spoke at the discussions.

At the end of the panel discussions, certificates and various gifts were presented to the participants of the forum.

Within the framework of the forum, "Orta game", "Karagöz and Hacivat" skits, which are examples of traditional Turkish theater, were shown. It should be noted that the play Karagöz and Hajivat" was shown for the first time in Nakhchivan.

Badam Aliyeva

NDU Media and Public Relations Department