News

On January 30, Deputy Head of mission of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Petr Vagner visited the National Library. Director of the Azerbaijan National Library prof. Karim Tahirov welcomed the guest. The meeting was also attended by Adiba Ismayilova, Deputy Director for Reader service affairs and Gulsaida Abdullayeva, Head of Rare books and library museum Department of the library. During the meeting, prof. Karim Tahirov noted that he and several employees of Azerbaijan National Library visited the National Library of the Czech Republic about a few years ago at different times, and researched the manuscripts related to Azerbaijan that kept there. Prof. Karim Tahirov also mentioned that catalog named “Azerbaijani manuscripts in the National Library of Prague” (in three languages: Azerbaijani, Czech and English) is ready for print. Despite the fact that it was previously agreed with the former director of the library that catalog to be published by the National Library of the Czech Republic, the newly appointed director doesn’t help for solution of this issue, added the director. Later on, considering the development of relations and strengthening cooperation between the countries, director Karim Tahirov hoped the embassy would be helpful in this matter.

Mr. Petr Vagner expressed his gratitude for the meeting and mentioned that he will do his best in order to solve the publishing problem of the catalog by discussing the problem with concerned persons from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Czech during his visit to Prague in March. He also mentioned that, besides the National Library of the Czech Republic, there are manuscripts about Azerbaijan, Nizami Ganjavi’s Khamsa in other libraries of the Czech Republic, as well as in the National Museum Library of Prague. Deputy Head of mission noted that works by a number of Azerbaijani writers – Mir Jalal Pashayev, Mirza Shafi Vazeh, Mahsati Ganjavi and others have been translated into the Czech language up to now. Currently, modern Azerbaijani literature samples are translated into the Czech language and draw attention of readers.

Highlighting that in the Czech Republic it is planned to hold presentation ceremony of a book about the relations between Azerbaijan and Czech Republic on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the independence of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the Czech Republic, Mr. Petr Vagner kindly asked to submit materials on cooperation between the national libraries of both countries to the Embassy.

At the end of the meeting, in his speech, prof. Karim Tahirov expressed his gratitude for information about the manuscripts related to Azerbaijan kept in libraries and museums of the Czech Republic, and added that required materials would be delivered to the Embassy of the Czech Republic within a short time, and thanked the Embassy in advance for publishing catalog. “Azerbaijan National Library. Photo Album” (in Azerbaijani, English and Russian), “Azerbaijan musical instruments”, “Azerbaijan carpets in the world collection” books and the map of Azerbaijan were presented to the guest.

In the end, a photo was taken with guests.