European youth enjoy beauty of Ganja as Youth Capital

/By Azernews/

By Amina Nazarli

Dozens of European youth flooded back into Azerbaijan’s beautiful corner of Ganja, as the city was announced the European Youth Capital 2016.

During the year, the country’s second-largest city will showcase its youth-related cultural, social, political and economic life and development through a multi-faceted program.

Ancient Ganja became the eight European Youth Capital and this year it will focus on its five priorities, including volunteering, youth employment, social cohesion, active participation and education.

Visitors from a number of European countries including Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Greece, Bulgaria and others, as well as representatives of a variety of international organizations, youth, sports and culture departments made a city tour, visiting many sightseeing of Ganja.

In conjunction with the official opening of the project delegations visited the Mehseti Ganjavi Center, dedicated to the first Azerbaijani poetess, first chess player, first renowned female musician and composer born in Ganja in 1089.

The representative of the European Youth Forum Laura Lubonova noted that it’s her first visit of Ganja.

“I visited the museum of Mehseti Ganjavi. I was very pleased to see the cultural center that bears a woman's name, because I am a feminist myself. Upon returning home I will tell my friends about this outstanding woman,” she said.

The guests also visited Nizami Ganjavi’s Mausoleum, the 12th century greatest representative of the Eastern Renaissance, displayed the quintessence of world literature and philosophy in his immortal work “Khamsa” (Five). The work which includes five poems of the national poet who lived in late 12th , early 13th century, has kept its relevance to date, and underlined that the poet's eternal ideas are guiding the mankind.

The unique manuscripts of his works are stored in well-known libraries and museums in many cities of the world, including Baku, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Tashkent, Tabriz, Tehran, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi, London, and Paris.

The guests got acquainted with military history, lifestyle, culture and traditions of Ganja population by visiting the "Ganja gates of the fortress" Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.

Vice-President of the Moldavian Youth Council Carolina Dodon underlined the beauty and rich history of the city.

“You have to appreciate and love it. Moldova is also a beautiful country. I do not see any difference between the youth of both countries. Two years ago I was in Baku. Baku is active and bustling city. Ganja, in turn, is the city of fairy tales: a quiet, nice, with a rich history. Your building is very beautiful, harmonious. It’s pleasant to walk along the streets,” she said.

European guests also went to the National Park to see the pearl of Azerbaijan’s nature Goygol. Located some 384 kilometers of the capital Baku, Goygol is the adornment of Ganja region.

A large mountain lake surrounded by the mountains of the Lesser Caucasus was formed as a result of a devastating earthquake that destroyed the Kapaz Mountain in the 12th century.

The representative of the project "Cluj-Napoca - European Youth Capital 2015" Tamas Szabo said that it’s his first visit to Azerbaijan.

“Since it’s my first visit, everything seems to me very interesting. One feels that the city and suburbs is very well developed in terms of economy and infrastructure. I love the mountains, but because of the fog could not see them. So I need to come here again,” he emphasized.

Ganja, with its ancient history of more than 4,000 years, is home to four universities, four colleges and 34 student organizations and youth NGOs. Sport is also developing in the city, as now it has an Olympic Complex with its modern sports equipment and infrastructures. About 30 percent of the city’s population is young people.

The city was also the capital of Azerbaijan, when the country first declared its independence in 1918, thus playing a leading role in the history of the country.