1st International Conference on Cultural Heritage, Media and Tourism was arranged in touristic city of Macedonia, Ohrid on 18-20th January, 2013. The conference was co-organized by Institute for Socio-cultural Anthropology of Macedonia, University for Audio-Visual Arts, ESRA- Skopje, Paris, New York and Euro-Asian Academy for Television and Radio, Moscow, Russia. Nearly 60 reporters from 12 countries, including Macedonia, Great Britain, Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Montenegro, Ukraine, Lithuania, Greece and others took part at the conference. Azerbaijan was represented by 9-people from Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Teachers’ Institute and MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Studying of Cultural Heritage.
Opening ceremony of the conference was held at University St. Paul the Apostle in Ohrid and opened by chief of conference organization committee, Prof. Rubin Zemon. He spoke about the role of the information technologies in propagation of the cultural heritage, the contribution of tourism to wide relations among the nations and underscored the conference’s significance in this sense. The major of Ohrid city, Mr. Alekandar Petreski noted Ohrid city developed from touristic viewpoint and efforts for acceptance of more tourists and stated this conference will bring novelties to their work.
Rector of Academy of film, television and Internet Communication from Sofia, Bulgaria and vice-president of Euro-Asian Academy for Television and Radio, Moscow, Russia, prof. Ph.D. Dimitar Dimitrov and member of MIRAS Social Organization Board, Prof. Gafar Jabiyev spoke on behalf of foreign country representatives. Gafar Jabiyev gave detailed information on ancient history of Azerbaijan, rich cultural heritage, state care on protection, research and promotion of cultural heritage in our country, development of tourism sector. He underscored 2013 year was announced “information technologies year” in Azerbaijan, larger projects were implemented in this field.
The conference was continued in separate sections in the noon. Member of MIRAS Board, Gadraddin Nematzade reported on development perspectives of archaeological tourism in Azerbaijan and the done work in the line of its promotion at the sessions. English version of “Azerbaijan Land of Monuments” film on archaeological tourism prepared by financial support of Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan was shown.
Head of MIRAS Exhibition and Design Department, art-restorer Vugar Guliyev had a report on the research and conservation experience of medieval metal wares in Azerbaijan.
Reports of Professor Gafar Jabiyev, PhD Fariz Khalilli and chief department of MIRAS Social Organization, Shola Bayramova on NGOs in research, protection and promotion of historical-cultural heritage in Azerbaijan was welcomed with interest by the participants. In the report numerous projects of cultural heritage by Haydar Aliyev Foundation, Qebele by SEBA (Seoul-Baku) Azerbaijan-Korean Cultural Exchange Association, Shamkir project by Public Union on Development of Regions and medieval Agsu town project by MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Studying of Cultural Heritage were dealt comprehensively.