On 11-12 April 2023, Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er took part and delivered a speech in “Days of Shusha” event, organized by the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation jointly with the Azerbaijan Cultural Center named after Heydar Aliyev in Tashkent on the occasion of the proclamation of the city of Shusha as the “Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2023”.

The event was attended by parliamentarians, heads of Turkic cooperation organizations, ambassadors of Turkic states, representatives of state bodies, cultural and academic circles of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

The event began with the laying of wreaths and flowers to the bust of national leader Heydar Aliyev, as well as to the complex of monuments to "Martyrs and Victory". Further, the guests were presented with an exhibition of photographs and publications under name "Free and Prosperous Shusha".

Minister of Culture and Tourism of Uzbekistan Ozodbek Nazarbekov, President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva, Director of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center named after Heydar Aliyev in Uzbekistan Samir Abbasov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Uzbekistan Huseyn Guliyev, Head of the Agency of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan Bahodir Abdukarimov, as well as other officials delivered speeches during the event.

On the next day, the participants of the event visited the Tashkent Regional Information and Library Center "Turon" and became acquainted with the corner dedicated to Shusha, where publications donated by the Foundation were also presented. At the same time, the guests were familiarized with the museum of the library dedicated to the victims of repressions.

Highly appreciating the organization of the event, the participants expressed their readiness to continue to put maximum effort into such projects. During the event, the significant role of Shusha in the cultural and literary environment of the entire Turkic world was also mentioned. Expressing satisfaction with the development of cooperation in all spheres between the Turkic states, the guests touched upon the importance of developing friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, as well as the Turkic states in general.

Mrs. Gunay Afandiyeva presented souvenirs to the guests and organizers.

“Days of Shusha” event was continued with the presentation of the collection of "Karabakh" Azerbaijani national clothes designed by Gulnara Khalilova.

Demonstration of a documentary film about the culture, literature, art and history of Shusha and presentation of Khurshidbanu Natavan's works translated into Uzbek language also took place within the framework of the event. The solemn part of the event concluded with a festive concert where great Azerbaijani and Uzbek songs and dances were performed by people's artists of the two countries.