Conference on traditonal medicine held in Azerbaijan

As APA reports, about 50 researchers take part in the conference from the USA, Germany, Bahrain, Belgium, Great Britain, Estonia, Georgia, Iran Israel, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Greece and from other countries. Making an opening speech at a conference the Heydar Aliyev Foundation President, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, parliamentarian Mehriban Aliyeva spoke about the projects implemented in healthcare, education, science and technical fields that the Foundation has implemented during the 2 years of its activity.

She stated the projects being supported by UNESCO, which are implemented in national, spiritual and historical monuments preserve of Azerbaijan, and reminded that in July of 2005, 3 manuscripts of Azerbaijan concerning medicine and material medica were included into the list of "Memory of the World Program" UNESCO.

"In that list, 3 of manuscripts belonging to Azerbaijan among the 120 manuscripts, shows that Azerbaijan has ancient history and culture."

Conference participants were displayed a film "Living History", Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura’s greeting letter was read to conference participants.

Vice-President of Washington Academy of Sciences, Alain Touwaide spoke of the importance of preserving historical monuments, and he advanced a proposal on implementing joint projects together with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. He presented World Medicine Historians Society "Honorary Certificate" to Mehriban Aliyeva.

President of the International Society for the History of Medicine (ISHM) Athanasios Diamondopuulos stated Azerbaijan to have ancient history, its being located between West and East, highly appreciated the works implemented in Azerbaijan in the field of preserving historical and Cultural Heritage. President of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Mahmud Kerimov stated that there are about 12 thousand medical and manuscripts are being preserved in the Institute of Manuscripts, among of them 360 documents of medicine are there.

According to him, the manuscript of Ibn Sina's manuscript is the most ancient manuscript preserved in the world. UNESCO Information Society Division Senior Program Abdelaziz Abid informed on opening of Consultative Committee in Baku. "World memory Programme" 3 of manuscripts belonging to Azerbaijan among the 120 manuscripts where the names of 77 countries were included, called as indicator of Azerbaijan to be the ancient country.

The conference will continue its work in plenary meetings in Baku, the other meetings will be held Yevlakh representation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Travel to Sheki and Gobustan cultural center is included into the Conference Program.