Concert and Reception Held in Sarajevo to Mark Victory Day

A festive concert and reception were held at the Youth Theatre in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to mark November 8 – Victory Day.

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bosnia and Herzegovina organized the event, with support from Azerbaijan’s National Commission for UNESCO, AZERTAC reports.

The ceremony was attended by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Culture and Sports, the Mayor of Sarajevo, the Deputy Minister of Defense, government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, military attachés, officers and soldiers of the Turkish battalion serving as part of EUFOR, members of the public, and Azerbaijani citizens residing in the country.

In his opening remarks, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Vilayat Guliyev recalled that the foundation for the historic Victory Day was laid five years ago, on September 27, and Azerbaijani people moved step by step toward this victory over 44 days, making sacrifices and losing hundreds of lives.

He noted that while Victory Day is officially celebrated on November 8, the Azerbaijani people fought for the liberation of their homeland under the leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, liberating settlements, villages, and towns from Armenian occupation every single day of the Patriotic War and paving the way to the historic Victory. “Our army not only liberated the territories from occupation but also brought peace, stability, cooperation, and mutual understanding to the South Caucasus region. It also became the savior of the Armenian people, freeing them from the rule of chauvinist and revanchist ‘leaders’ who promoted revanchism, national hatred, and a desire for revenge. Today, extensive reconstruction and development efforts are underway in the territories that remained under occupation for nearly 30 years. Azerbaijan has achieved success not only on the battlefield but also in peacetime,” the diplomat emphasized.

Highlighting that Garabagh is the cradle of Azerbaijani culture, particularly its rich musical heritage, Vilayat Guliyev noted that celebrating Victory Day with a concert by the “Garabagh” ensemble carried symbolic significance: “Mugham, which originated in Garabagh, is the musical expression of our people’s spirit, history, and emotional depth. This art form, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, continues to unite us and introduce us to the world.”

During the artistic segment of the event, the “Garabagh” Mugham Group, led by Azerbaijan’s People’s Artist and mugham master Mansum Ibrahimov, performed a rich and diverse concert program. The audience enjoyed an unforgettable evening of music that reflected the subtleties of Azerbaijan’s ancient mugham tradition. Each performance was met with applause.

Mansum Ibrahimov was accompanied by Azerbaijan’s People’s Artist Elchin Hashimov (tar) and Honored Artists Elnur Ahmadov (kamancha) and Kamran Karimov (nagara). They also performed selections from instrumental mugham. The audience praised the Azerbaijani musicians' skill and noted that the concert was a significant event in Sarajevo’s cultural life.

The Victory Day concert concluded with a formal reception hosted by the Embassy of Azerbaijan, attended by numerous guests.

Nihad Budagov
AZERTAC Special correspondent
Sarajevo