Among the many prominent participants were Samad Seyidov, rector of AUL and member of parliament; Huseyn Baghirov, Minister of Ecology; and Maja Bauge, Director of the Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo. Lars Troen Sørensen, Country Manager Statoil Azerbaijan, participated with a welcome greeting. Erling Skjønsberg, Ambassador of Norway to Azerbaijan, participated in several events and held an official reception for the conference participants in his residence. During the week, conference participants had the chance to visit Gobustan and Lahic.
Thor Heyerdahl’s widow, Jacqueline Beer Heyerdahl, and his son, Thor Heyerdahl jr, were the guests of honour at the conference. The popularity and respect Thor Heyerdahl still enjoys in Azerbaijan, and the positive contribution he made to the relations between our two countries, was underlined by the fact that Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on Friday October 28 received Jacqueline Beer Heyerdahl, Thor Heyerdahl jr., and Ambassador Skjønsberg in his residence.
For the full conference programme, see here.
The opening of the conference. From the left: Maja Bauge, Kon-Tiki Museum; Bente Christiansen, University of Oslo; Lars Sørensen, Statoil Azerbaijan; Erling Skjønsberg, Ambassador of Norway to Azerbaijan; Samad Seyidov, rector of AUL and member of parliament; Thor Heyerdahl jr.; Huseyn Baghirov, Minister of Ecology; Vagif Aliyev, Deputy Minister of Culture. Photo: Ola Sæther/Uniforum UiO