President Ilham Aliyev and Serbian President Boris Tadic have unveiled a bust to outstanding Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli in the town of Novi Sad.

Novi Sad is the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina and is Serbia’s second biggest city after Belgrade. Novi Sad was established in 1694. The city, which was considered the cradle of Serbian culture in the 17-19th centuries, is also referred to as Serbian Athens. Today, Novi Sad is an industrial and financial center of the Serbian economy and one of the country’s main culture centers. It is home to ancient culture and science centers, museums and theaters. It is no coincidence that this is where Serbia’s first theater was opened in 1861.

Yet another contribution to the cultural life of Serbia has been made by Azerbaijan. Thus, a bust to outstanding Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli has been put up in Novi Sad on the initiative of and support from President Ilham Aliyev.

The Azerbaijani President was informed that the park where the bust has been put up had been landscaped and all the conditions created there for local residents to have rest.

The master of ceremonies spoke about Uzeyir Hajibayli’s life and work. He said the creative legacy of the outstanding Azerbaijani composer, Uzeyir Hajibayli, was an asset not only foe the people of Azerbaijan. It is also a pearl of world culture. His music has been included on the “gold reserves” of world culture. The musical, literary and scientific legacy of the composer is truly immortal.

Speaking at the ceremony, the mayor of Novi Sad, Igor Pavlicic, thanked President Ilham Aliyev for assistance in putting up the best to the outstanding Azerbaijani composer, Uzeyir Hajibayli. He said multiethnic Serbia had great respect for other cultures, and the establishment of a bust to Uzeyir Hajibayli in Novi Sad was a great honor for local residents.
Pavlicic stressed that Novi Sad was interested in the economic cooperation with Azerbaijan and added that this event would further strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Serbia unveiled the bust.

Then the heads of state made remarks at the ceremony.

Remarks by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Mr. President!

Dear Mr. Mayor!

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

Dear residents of Novi Sad!

It is a very remarkable day in the history of Azerbaijani-Slovenian relations. A bust to outstanding Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli has been established in one of the most beautiful parts of Serbia, in Novi Sad. I sincerely congratulate all of you on this occasion. Uzeyir Hajibayli is the founder of Azerbaijani classical music. Uzeyir Hajibayli is also the founder of the Azerbaijani conservatory. His undying compositions are still very actual. At the same time, Uzeyir Hajibayli has created a very strong school of classical music in Azerbaijan. Besides, our ingenious composer is the author of Azerbaijan’s national anthem.

In 1918, the first democratic republic of the Muslim East, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, was established and it was Uzeyir Hajibayli who was the author of its national anthem. After Azerbaijan had lost its independence, our anthem was not played of course. But after the break-up of the Soviet Union and restoration of our state independence, the national anthem of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic created by Uzeyir Hajibayli was declared the anthem of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. So today this wonderful composition by Uzeyir Hajibayli is played at all official activities.

Yesterday and today saw momentous events in the history of our countries. Monuments to the outstanding Serbian writer, Milorad Pavic, and to the outstanding personality of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, were unveiled in Tasmajdan Park yesterday. A monument to another outstanding Serb, world-famous scientist Nikola Tesla will be put up in Baku in the coming months. These wonderful events will bring us closer together. I am sure that our countries will cooperate even more closely in the future.

My visit to your beautiful country is coming to an end today. I can say that it has produced great results. I am sure that in the last two days Azerbaijani-Serbian relations of strategic partnership have become even stronger. Mutual support in the most painful issues of our countries – the Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh problems – has strengthened further. Our positions were declared again yesterday. We have held very reassuring talks on economic partnership, and a specific action plan will be prepared soon. I am sure that all the agreements reached will soon be realized, and Serbia in the Balkans and Azerbaijan in the Caucasus and the Caspian basin will apply collective effort towards deepening regional cooperation.

I want to thank Serbian President Boris Tadic and all the people of Serbia for the hospitality our delegation and myself have enjoyed. Let me assure you that I will continue doing everything in my power in order to bring our countries even closer together.

Remarks by Serbian President Boris Tadic

- Dear Mr. President!

Dear Mr. Mayor!

Dear residents of Novi Sad and the province of Vojvodina!

I am very pleased to participate in the unveiling of a bust to outstanding Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli this morning.
I am grateful to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the valuable assistance Azerbaijan has provided in restoring this park in such a nice part of the city, and in the unveiling of these monuments. This assistance strengthens the friendship and cooperation between our countries and peoples and brings us closer together in music.

As you can see, this park is located on the bank of Europe’s biggest river – the Danube. I think this is a pretty place. Musicians can play their compositions here. Of course, our citizens living here can have rest in this park. I think that today’s event has contributed a lot to our relations in the area of culture.

Several years ago the condition of the park wasn’t so gratifying, there weren’t good enough conditions for rest. But the government decided to landscape the river bank and create conditions for people to have rest here. At the same time, conditions were created for people to do sports. As you can see, the area has been landscaped and amenity planting carried out. We can also see fountains here, there are other opportunities for people to rest here.

In other words, Serbia is becoming prettier by the day, our country is acquiring a new appearance. And this means the implementation of our future plans. Our country will become even more beautiful in several years.

Last year I personally watched the construction work here. I am pleased to say today that a new bridge has been built and commissioned for the residents of Novi Sad. This is a remarkable event. At the same time, as you know, we are building and restoring the highway in the direction of Hungary. In the years ahead we plan to build a number of other bridges that will turn Novi Sad into a regional transport hub. There are agreements to that effect. Specific tasks have been laid out. The construction of these roads, the construction of the highway will invigorate our achievements in this sphere. We want to indicate that we are interested in our Azerbaijani friends participating in such projects.

During our negotiations we emphasized the participation of Azerbaijani companies in the construction of roads and highways in Serbia, including railway construction. So we want to confirm that cooperation between our countries is not limited to the construction of a new gas pipeline, energy security, delivery of energy to Serbia and diversification. We have many common projects. The results of these projects are already evident. As you can see, yesterday we unveiled a monument to Azerbaijan’s nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev. Also, as you know, there is a monument to great Serbian writer Milorad Pavic next to it. At the same time, as it has been mentioned here, a monument to outstanding Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla will be put up in Baku. There is a decision on that. In other words, the steps that have been taken are strengthening the friendship and cooperation between our countries.

President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan has indicated here that our countries are faced with very painful problems. I am talking about the problems of Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh. However, despite these problems, we must continue moving forward. We are talking about bringing the peoples of our countries closer together. We must create new spheres for our children, for new generations. Of course, new projects in the area of culture must be implemented, new monuments unveiled. All this brings us closer together.

The relations of personal friendship between the heads of state have a positive impact on the further strengthening of the relations of friendship between our countries and peoples. We think we can elevate the economic cooperation between our countries to an even higher level. Our common goal is to improve the quality of life in both countries, so that our peoples could benefit more from the work we are doing.

I wish you success in this. My congratulations again. Thank you.

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Serbian President Boris Tadic listened to compositions of Uzeyir Hajibayli performed by the Azerbaijan state symphonic orchestra named after the outstanding composer.

Then the heads of state enjoyed the views of the bank of the nearby Danube where a bust to the great Azerbaijani composer has been put up.