A network of exhibitions and sales of items of applied art and souvenirs will be organised as part of the Eurovision 2012 contest in Icheri Sheher, the Director with the Administration of State Historical-Architectural Reserve Icheri Sheher, Mikail Jabbarov, said in an interview.

He said Icheri Sheher with its cultural and historical monuments is a favorite destination for foreign tourists, a stream of whom is growing every year.

He said in connection with this, the activities of the administration of the old city are aimed both at preserving the historical heritage and creating tourist infrastructure meeting international standards.

"As part of preparation for the Eurovision 2012, organising committee of this prestigious international contest, established in accordance with the order of the President of Azerbaijan on May 19, 2011, decided to organise in Icheri Sheher a network of exhibitions and sales of items of applied art and souvenirs, and to increase tourist service facilities. For these purposes, from May 20 to 25 from 12:00 to 20:00 the traditional "Meydan Market" will be organised on the square in front of the Gosha Gala gates. Craftsmen from all over the country will be invited at it. Here tourists and visitors will be shown the manufacturing process of national products. All the museums, which are subordinate to the Administration of Historical and Architectural Reserve were shifted from May to working hours from 09:00 until 21:00. Three additional information points for providing tourists with information and printed material on Icheri Sheher and information on tours have been installed on the territory," Jabbarov said.

The director of administration noted that on the eve of Eurovision start will be given to an interesting project called "Ask me". Local and foreign volunteers will walk on the territory of the reserve in the T-shirts with the above-mentioned inscription and provide tourists with necessary information, give them pamphlets and other promotional materials. The most interesting feature of the project is that information to tourists will be given by foreign volunteers, who have been living in Azerbaijan for some time and are familiar with the culture and history of the country.

"As part of ongoing work to expand the public catering, a number of sites that offer delicious samples of the national cuisine were opened. The most interesting program for tourists can serve the 'Maiden Tower' International Festival of Arts held for the third consecutive year, which is attended by famous artists from different countries. In the area near the Maiden Tower artists in the public eye painted the models of the Tower itself, and also the first time, at the initiative of the environmental campaign of IDEA, headed by Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, models of gazelles, which are threatened with extinction. After completion of the Festival, works were displayed in the open air near the Maiden Tower, together with models of the previous festivals," Jabbarov said.

He said the Maiden Tower is one of the main symbols of Baku, and has always been shrouded in an aura of mystery. Since 2008, with the support of First Lady, UNESCO Goodwill

Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva, work has started on scientific research and technology development of museum conservation of this unique monument, inscribed on the World Heritage List. After approval of the results obtained conservation began. Such work was carried out on the monument for the first time, with the attraction of leading experts and modern methods of research. The study of the monument is not yet complete, but at the moment it is known that the slab with the name of Masud ibn Davud, according to which a monument was dated to the XII century, has nothing to do with the monument itself and has been embedded later.

As part of conservation work new artifacts were also identified, which are currently being studied. The exhibition will be supplemented with new information received after completion of conservation work in 2013.

Jabbarov said the main task of the Administration in the near future is the integration of Icheri Sheher and Gala reserves. "As you know, from January 1, 2012, the historical and ethnographic reserve in this Baku township with 5,000-year history was transferred by the Order of the President to submission of our Administration. This was done in order to achieve a better level of work undertaken in the reserve for the promotion of cultural heritage, create a mechanism for protection and preservation of monuments after the example of Icheri Sheher, ensure operating established tourism infrastructure," Jabbarov said.

He said naturally Icheri Sheher and the work carried out therein remain the focus of the Administration. Restoration work is underway on the monuments, while replacing the entire engineering and communication systems, landscaping, courtyards, repairing facades of historic buildings is underway. Much attention is paid to the improvement of museum activity, proper design of the old and creation of new exhibits, purchase of items.

"Given the growing interest of tourists, new packages of tourism services are being created, which include not only visits to Icheri Sheher, but other sights of the capital and surrounding regions. Preparation of guides and the introduction of texts in several languages ​​for the audio guides continue intensively. Thus, the main objectives and tasks that stand in front of us is the integration of both reserves under a single management, including life support, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, located on their territory. Along with the administrative activities integral part of our work is also a cultural-mass work, the preparation and release of numerous printed materials on history, culture, ethnography, epigraphy of ancient Baku and Gala," the director of the reserve said.

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