Grand opening of Russia's Year in Azerbaijan to take place in Baku on 21 February

This large-scale socio-political action is held as response to the Year of Azerbaijan in Russia, which, according to the Ambassador, "became an important event in the history of friendly relations between the two states," Trend reports.

Polad Bul-Bul oglu said, mutual events such as Days of Culture involving prominent musicians, artists, cinema and theatre workers have become a tradition already. According to him, the Russian art is always widely popular in Azerbaijan, and the successful concert tours of Russian artists in Baku and other cities are good examples.

One of the central events in 2006 will be the music festival in Azerbaijan, dedicated to the 100-th anniversary of the great Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s birthday. The festival to be lasted the entire week will be headed by the prominent Russian musician of the Baku origin Mstislav Rostropovich.

The popular singer and the former Azerbaijan Minister of Culture Polad Bul-Bul oglu stressed, appointment as Ambassador to Russia for him has a special meaning. "Your capital has been always especially attractive for me. My concerts took place here, and here I have got my popularity," he stressed, according to ITAR-TASS.