On November 25 the first meeting of the Organizing Committee established in connection with Islamic Culture Capital Nakhchivan-2018 was held .
Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the chairman of the Organizing Committee made a speech at the meeting an: Today we gather in connection with the status of Nakhchivan as the capital of Islamic Culture for 2018. It is already 15 years that the “Capital of Islamic Culture” concept is on agenda. The first official document was adopted by the proposal of Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) at the third conference of culture ministers of member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation in November, 2001. At the fifth conference of ISESCO which was held in November, 2007, Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan was declared the capital of Islamic culture for the year 2009. And at the sixth conference of the culture ministers of member states of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation held in Baku in October, 2009, a decision was adopted to declare the city of Nakhchivan the capital of Islamic culture for 2018. This decision is justified. Because, Nakhchivan, the 5 thousand years old city of Azerbaijan, is rich with examples of Islamic culture and has made valuable contributions to the world civilization. The mentioned, as well as the experience gained during Baku-2009 the Capital of Islamic Culture makes confidence in the conduct of activities in Nakhchivan in 2018.
Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the chairman of the Organizing Committee also thanked President Ilham Aliyev on behalf of the Organizing Committee for setting up the Organizing Committee which was established on the basis of the Decree dated June 2, 2016 and placing confidence in its members. It was noted that on the basis of Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Organizing Committee had to prepare Events Plan and submit it to appropriated structures. It was noted that in the Decree of the President there was an order to prepare Events Plan and submit it to relevant authority. Today, Events Plan prepared on the basis of the proposals of Organizing Committee members is presented for discussion. Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the chairman of the Organizing Committee highlighted preparations to be made in order to ensure that Nakhchivan excellently fulfills its mission of the Islamic Culture Capital. “First of all we plan to launch ‘Islamic Culture Capital Nakhchivan-2018’ logo and an official website. Promotional videos, envelopes, souvenirs, post stamps reflecting Islamic Culture Capital Nakhchivan-2018 should be prepared. Representatives of Islamic countries will take part in events to be held in the autonomou republic in 2018. Necessary issues must be resolved beforehand in connection with the arrival of participants and the persons accompanying them.The members of the Organizing Committee responsible for these fields will keep them under control. Autonomous Republic is rich with the samples of Turkish-Islamic culture and religious monuments. We must work in the direction of including some of these monuments into the list of ISESCO. We also plan to publish books on religious monuments, mosques and temples in the autonomous republic. At the same time shooting of documentaries and television films dedicated to our national-spiritual values is also an important issue. Organization of scientific-popular events also will be in the focus of attention.Our plans also include organizing a week of Islamic films, folklore and dance festivals, and different sporting tournaments”.
Then the activities fulfiled after Nakhchivan's proclamation the capital city of Islamic culture were looked through, the events to be fulfiled in 2016 - 2018 were defined, the plan of events prepeard by taking into consideration the proposals of the members of the organizing committee was discussed