Dr. Moustafa Elfeki, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, received H.E. Tural Rzayev, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Egypt, in celebration of the 880th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Poet Nizami Ganjavi.
The visit started with Ambassador Rzayev laying a wreath at the statue of Nizami Ganjavi, which was donated by Azerbaijan to the BA.
The delegation toured the BA departments, specialized libraries, and various museums, and was introduced to its collections of books that cover different fields of knowledge.
Dr. Elfeki expressed his delight with the Azerbaijani Ambassador’s visit to the BA, underlining the strong relationships between both countries.
He pointed out that the diplomatic relations between Egypt and Azerbaijan started officially in 1989, coinciding with the collapse of the Soviet Union, as Egypt was among the first countries to strengthen ties with Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, Dr. Elfeki highlighted the legacy of the Azerbaijani Poet Nizami Ganjavi, and his pioneering role in the dissemination of the culture of tolerance and peace, stating that the celebration of his anniversary – in appreciation for the late poet’s role in enriching world literature – stemmed from the Library’s mission of inclusion and promoting cultural heritage.
Ambassador Tural Rzayev was pleased to visit the BA, stressing the fact that both Egypt and Azerbaijan share long-standing cultural relations, and that the Arabic and Islamic heritage had a significant impact on the Azerbaijani people.
At the end of the visit, Ambassador Rzayev donated a collection of literary and artistic books to the BA, while Dr. Elfeki presented him with a number of BA publications, including The Photographic Memory of Cairo and The Photographic Memory of Alexandria.