It is important to note that the institute for the first time presented absolute masterpieces from its collection. Among the works displayed at the exhibition were Ibn Sina's The Canon of Medicine, rewritten in 1258 and included in the UNESCO manuscript heritage list, the diwan Garaib As-Sigar, published during the lifetime of Alisher Navoi and bearing his autograph, a copy of Baburnameh dated to the 17th century and dozens of other rare manuscripts.

The new book-album Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the Collections of Azerbaijan was presented by Academician Nailya Velinhanly, head of the National Museum of the History of Azerbaijan, Doctor Shirin Melikova, head of the National Museum of Art of Azerbaijan and National Carpet Museum, Academician Teymur Kerimli, head of the Fuzuli Institute of Manuscripts, and many others. In total, more than 20 reports were delivered. 

The event was attended by 4 academicians and more than 20 doctors from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.  It featured a ceremonial donation of over 50 volumes of illustrated books-albums from the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections series to the Museum of History and Art of Azerbaijan, the Carpet Museum and the Fuzuli Institute of Manuscripts. 

Certificates for receiving the books-albums were presented by Academician Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker for the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the project's editorial board. He spoke about the role of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections project in consolidating friendly relations between the two countries and presented certificates on behalf of the World Society to Azerbaijani scholars and researchers working in this field.

The round table turned out to be rich in academic discoveries and new projects: for example, the staff of the Fuzuli Institute of Manuscripts expressed their willingness to assist WOSCU in translating a manuscript by the outstanding Persian astronomer As-Sufi, a facsimile of which was published by the World Society in 2023. 

"Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are countries very close to each other in language, traditions and customs. Today, thanks to the educational initiatives proposed by the heads of the two states, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ilham Aliyev, the possibilities of academic cooperation are growing deeper and the two countries are developing more and more new joint projects. The illustrated book-album, which we are presenting today together with our Azerbaijani colleagues and members of the World Society, includes rare numismatic collections, gifts from the Emir of Bukhara – a case for the Quran of gilded silver, a service, also of silver with gilt and decorated with enamel, ink and engraving, a unique photo portrait of the Emir of Bukhara, Said Mir Abdul Ahad Khan, a collection of wonderful 19th-century suzanis and other artifacts, which are real treasures of Uzbek culture and art, including handwritten heritage – manuscripts by scholars, poets and cultural figures written in Arabic, Persian and Uzbek," said Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Chairman of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan (WOSCU). 

The Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections project is sponsored by the Eriell Group oilfield services company headed by its head Bakhtiyor Fazylov.

Academician Teymur Kerimli, Director General of the Fuzuli Institute of Manuscripts, spoke about the unique manuscript heritage from Uzbekistan, which is kept at the Institute: 

"Our institute houses unique manuscripts by the great scientist Abu Ali ibn Sina. About 200 of these manuscripts have been sent to the World Society, and many of them are included in the new volume on Uzbek heritage in the collections of Azerbaijan." 

He added that he was extremely happy for the fruitful cooperation between the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections project and museums in Azerbaijan.

"Such close academic, cultural, and friendly ties help realize our great mission – to acquaint the whole world with the richest cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. This is very important and valuable," Academician Teymur Kerimli said. 

Academician Nailya Velinhanly, Director General of the Museum of the History of Azerbaijan, also expressed gratitude to the World Society for the implementation of this large-scale project.

"I am grateful to the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan for their studying a huge layer of previously unexplored material related to the Uzbek cultural heritage. The staff of our museum was deeply pleased to participate in the project to create the book-album and I believe that this is only the beginning of our research and academic ties," commented Academician Nailya Velinhanly. 

The event was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan Bahrom Ashrafkhanov.

For reference: During the work on the book-album, WOSCU specialists made a number of creative business trips to Azerbaijan. They took part in an international conference dedicated to the 800th anniversary of Nizami Ganjavi, as well as at an international conference in Baku on the national musical art of the Turkic peoples in 2023. In December 2022, the WOSCU delegation organized a research visit and meetings with the management of the Institute of Manuscripts, National Museum of Art of Azerbaijan, National Museum of History of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Carpet Museum.

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