(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Azerbaijani delegation has participated in the annual conference
of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), held in the
Portuguese city of Braga, Azernews reports.
The country was represented at the conference by the Culture
Ministry's delegation with the aim of creating propaganda
mechanisms aimed at expanding the export opportunities of cultural
and creative industries.
Founded in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) aims
to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified
creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban
development.
Themed "Bringing Youth to the Table for the Next Decade", the
conference featured thematic sessions, sub-network meetings, a
forum of city mayors, as well as various cultural events.
More than 250 Creative Cities from around the world gathered to
celebrate the Network's 20th anniversary, emphasising the
significance of youth engagement in urban development.
The conference participants discussed strategies to better
integrate culture into sustainable urban development.
The discussions culminated in the endorsement of the Braga
Manifesto, advocating for culture to be recognised as a standalone
goal in the post-2030 sustainable development framework.
In his speech, Director-General for Culture of UNESCO Ernesto
Ottone Ramirez noted that Creative Cities recognise culture's role
as a driver and enabler of sustainable development.
"Through the UCCN Braga Manifesto, the Creative Cities around
the world came together to recognise culture's role as a driver and
enabler of sustainable development. Today, they made a strong call
for the integration of culture as a standalone goal in the
post-2030 international development agenda. UNESCO invites its
partners and intergovernmental organisations to join this common
global vision," he said.
The Braga Manifesto charts a course of action for Creative
Cities, building on the momentum from the UNESCO World
Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development ,
where the
MONDIACULT 2022 Declaratio was unanimously adopted by 150
States.
Aligning with the Declaration, the Braga Manifesto outlines
commitments across six priority areas to be implemented locally:
strengthening individual and collective cultural rights; addressing
the digital transformation in the cultural and creative sector,
notably Artificial Intelligence (AI); harnessing culture for
climate action; tapping into the economic dimensions of culture;
protecting cultural heritage in times of crisis; enhancing the
synergies between culture and education.
In future, UCCN focuses on expanding the global impact of
Creative Cities through strengthened cooperation and advancing
cultural agendas in line with the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration and
Sustainable Development Agenda, addressing contemporary challenges
and opportunities worldwide.
The event participants were given the opportunity to familiarise
themselves with the activities of cultural institutions and other
government agencies in a number of countries.
The delegates held meetings with international experts in the
field of CCI and industry representatives from a number of cities
included in the network.
The possibilities of implementing joint projects to promote the
export of products and services were highlighted as well.
At the same time, the meeting participants were informed about
the development processes of the cities of Baku, Shaki, and
Lankaran, which are part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Baku
Back in the early 20th century, Azerbaijan went through its
first oil boom, and architects from all over Western Europe were
attracted to the city to design buildings for the expanding
city.
The result is a charming mix of architectural styles and
genuinely beautiful buildings that line the city's traffic-choked
streets. Baku's skyline has grown more cosmopolitan with the
addition of modern skyscrapers such as the Heydar Aliyev Centre,
the Carpet Museum, and the Flame Towers.
The modern architecture here perfectly co-exist with impressive
examples of Azerbaijan's past. The Old City, including the Palace
of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower, became the first location in
Azerbaijan to be classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Shaki
The inclusion of Shaki in the City of Crafts and Folk Art
category of the network is not a coincidence. The city has long
been illustrated as the centre of crafts and folk art in
Azerbaijan, owing to the alluring handicrafts made by the local
craftsmen.
Since ancient times, Sheki has been famous for its sericulture
and especially for kelagayi, a silk headscarf for women. In
addition to silk weaving, here the dyeing of fabrics, the
production of chisels, and embroidery developed.
Lankaran
If you visit Azerbaijan, the Land of Fire, you should definitely
taste its tea. Lankaran is well-known throughout Azerbaijan for
producing the best tea in the country. The subtropical climate of
the region is ideal for its growth.
The first tea plantations appeared here in 1896. In 1937, the
first packs of Azerbaijani tea were released. In Soviet times,
Azerbaijani tea was very popular.
Lankaran is also famous for its rich and delicious cuisine.
Lavangi, Lankaran kulcha, marji plov, white plov, pumpkin plov, and
turshu kebab are the best examples of local cuisine.
----
Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr
MENAFN18072024000195011045ID1108453173
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.