At the VI conference of culture ministers of member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in Baku in 2009, adopted the resolution to declare the city of Nakhchivan as the capital of Islamic culture in 2018. This resolution is the reflection of high value to the rich cultural-spiritual heritage of Nakhchivan, the ancient land of Azerbaijan, which has made valuable contributions to the dialogue among civilizations. Historically, Nakhchivan, as one of the great cities of the Near and Middle East, during his great history has played an important role to keep alive centuries-old achievements of Islamic culture.
Following the paragraph 32 of article 109 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and to ensure preparations for the events to be hosted by Nakhchivan on a proper level I decree:
1. In connection with the announcement of Nakhcivan city the capital of the Islamic culture of the year of 2018 to compose an organnizing commity in the following structure.
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee
Vasif Talibov - the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee
Abulfas Garayev - the minister of culture and tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the chairman of the Azerbaijani National Commission for ISESCO
Members of the Organizing Committee
Nadir Huseynov - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan,the member of the Azerbaijani National Commission for ISESCO
Sayyad Salahli - First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic, the member of the Azerbaijani National Commission for ISESCO
Aynur Sofiyeva - Deputy chairman of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Republic of Azerbaijan, the member of the Azerbaijani National Commission for ISESCO
Asgar Abdullayev - Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Azerbaijan Republic
Natavan Gadimova- the minister of culture and tourism of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Mammad Garibov - the minister of education of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Azad Jabbarov- the minister of youth and sports of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Isa Habibbayli - Vice-President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the member of the Azerbaijani National Commission for ISESCO
Daghbayi Ismayilov - Deputy director of Azerbaijan State Information Agency, the member of the Azerbaijani National Commission for ISESCO
Urkhan Alakbarov - rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Azerbaijan Republic, the member of the Azerbaijani National Commission for ISESCO
Vasim Mammadaliyev - full member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the member of the Azerbaijani National Commission for ISESCO
Vasif Eyvazzadeh - Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Secretary General of the Azerbaijani National Commission for ISESCO
Asger Ismayilov - head of Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
Vugar Babayev - Head of the Department for Religious Affairs of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
2. Organizing Committee that established with the first part of the Decree have to prepare events plan within three months and submit it to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
3. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan to resolve issues arising from the decree.
Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku city, 2 June 2016