Los Angeles Celebrates the 95th Anniversary of
the First Azerbaijan-US Diplomatic Encounter
On April 16, 2014, the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles has held a concert of Azerbaijani musicians at the renowned Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
The concert was dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the first diplomatic meeting that took place between Azerbaijan and the US, when in 1919 the US President Woodrow Wilson met in Paris with a high-ranking delegation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), led by the Speaker of Azerbaijan's Parliament Alimardan Topchubashov.
The event started with the demonstartion of a short promotional video on Azerbaijan. Speaking afterwards, the Consul General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles Nasimi Aghayev informed the audience about this historic meeting, noting that President Wilson was apparently very much impressed by the encounter. According to Aghayev, returning to the US, President Wilson vividly recalled that meeting during a speech delivered in San Francisco the same year saying the following: "One day there came in a very dignified and interesting group of gentlemen from Azerbaijan. I was talking to men who talked the same language that I did in respect of ideals, in respect of conceptions of liberty, right and justice." The Consul General also highlighted the many progressive reforms by ADR -- the first secular parliamentary democracy in the Islamic world - including granting the right to vote to women even before the US and other Western democracies.
Noting the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, Aghayev said that Azerbaijan and US have built a strong strategic partnership based on common values, interests and vision for the future, and that Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of the US in the critically important Caspian region.
Following the remarks, the professor of music at the San Jose State University, virtuoso pianist Dr. Namik Sultanov excellently performed pieces by Azerbaijani and European composers.
Another Azerbaijani musician, the winner of Guitar Foundation of America's "Best Guitarist" award Rovshan Mamedkuliev mesmerized the audience with his outstanding performance of pieces by Azerbaijani, American and European composers.
The Azerbaijani Mugham and folk songs, including Sari Gelin and Karabakh Shikestesi, performed by talented Mugham singer Aytan Maharramova and instrumentalists Rovshan Gurbanov (Tar) and Jeyhun Muradov (Kamancha) captivated the audience and were received with standing ovations.
Over 600 Angelenos attended the concert.
