Organized by the embassies of Azerbaijan in Italy and the Holy See, a classical music concert was held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev at the Cancelleria Palace, which belongs to the Vatican and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

State officials of Italy and the Vatican, Chairman of the Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Samad Seyidov, representatives of the diplomatic corps and academic circles in Italy and the Vatican, as well as our compatriots living in Italy, took part in the concert.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Italy Rashad Aslanov spoke about the special role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who made his first official visit to Italy in 1997 as the President of independent Azerbaijan, in laying the foundation of Azerbaijan-Italy relations, which have risen to the level of strategic partnership. He said that the oil strategy, which was authored by the National Leader and successfully implemented today by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, made important contributions to ensuring the energy security of the European countries, including Italy, and that cooperation with Italy in the economic, cultural and humanitarian fields continues successfully.

At the same time, Ambassador R. Aslanov emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev continued the activities of the National Leader in the direction of building an independent and strong Azerbaijan which restored its territorial integrity. He noted that Azerbaijan has become a powerful state that initiates and implements the global projects.

Our country's ambassador to the Holy See, Ilgar Mukhtarov, said that the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev was celebrated this year, and 2023 was declared the "Year of Heydar Aliyev" in Azerbaijan. The ambassador noted that Heydar Aliyev, a genius, made great contributions to the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence, strengthening of its sovereignty, increasing the role of our country in the international arena, and reinforcing it from an economic point of view.

Ilgar Mukhtarov emphasized that this year marks the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, and that Azerbaijan-Vatican relations are based on mutual respect, dialogue, joint cooperation and common interests. He said that in 1997 National Leader Heydar Aliyev made an official visit to the Vatican as the first President of Azerbaijan and held important meetings, Pope John Paul II visited Azerbaijan in 2002 and Pope Francis in 2016, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva had official visits to the Holy See.

The diplomat noted that with the participation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, restoration projects of important examples of cultural and artistic heritage are implemented in the Vatican.

In the concert program, cellist Lala Marelli and pianist Angelica Seminara performed the masterpieces of great composers Niyazi, Fikret Amirov, Farhad Badalbeyli, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Johann Sebastian Bach, Giacomo Puccini, Antonín Dvořák, George Gershwin, Ruggero Leoncavallo and Ernesto De Curtis.

Azerbaijan's folk songs "Gozelim sensen" and "Kuchelare su sapmisham" caused special applause from the audience.

Within the framework of the concert, a photo exhibition of the visits of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva to Italy and the Vatican was organized.