APA news agency
07 April 2009

An exhibition titled “The customs in the guard of cultural heritage” is held in the Vatican Apostolic Palace displaying the exhibits of Azerbaijani and world cultural heritages. The exhibition was organized by the embassy of Azerbaijan to Switzerland and Azerbaijan State Customs Committee, the embassy sources told APA. The Azerbaijani and world art works and historic documents, detained by the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee during smuggling from Azerbaijan, are displayed at the exhibition. The works of modern Azerbaijani artists are also exhibited. The exhibition expresses Azerbaijan’s contribution to the dialogue of languages and civilizations and protection of cultural heritage. A film about Azerbaijan was shown and concert of the Azerbaijani composers was performed at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. The Azerbaijani government presented two works of Azerbaijani artists to Vatican. The meeting of Heydar Aliyev and Pope John Paul II during the Pontiff’s visit to Azerbaijan was depicted in one of the pictures. Another work titled “Virgin Mary and Messiah” is the work depicted Virgin Mary in the Azerbaijani kelaghay, headscarf.