“Cross-culture dialogue: Kitabi-Dede Gorgud and Nibelungen Saga” project kickeds off in Baku

The first international symposium within the project carried out by Baku Slavic University, Mainz University and Oswald von Wolkenstein Foundation started at the Slavic University on Wednesday.

BSU rector Kamal Abdulla said the project would last five years.

German ambassador to Azerbaijan Per Stanchina said cooperation between the universities had a special priority.

He said many Azerbaijani students receive education in Germany, but there were few German students taking interest in education in Azerbaijan.

Such projects will increase interest to Azerbaijan. The ambassador said Kitabi-Dede Gorgud is being translated to German for the second time.

Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences Sarkhan Abbas called the project a junction of Eastern and Western cultures.

Deputy Minister of Education Elmar Gasimov said these sagas described identity of Azerbaijani and German peoples.

Gasimov thanked Dresden library for saving Kitabi-Dede Gorqud.

Director of Yugh Theater Vagif Ibrahimoglu said many common ideas were discovered in these eposes.

“Savalan” music group performed pieces from Kitabi-Dede Gorgud.

Ibrahimoglu said the musicians planned to prepare program “The Song of Nibelungs” next year. Nearly 30 researchers from Germany, well-known scientists, parliamentarians and diplomats of Azerbaijan attended the symposium.

/APA/