Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The solemn ceremony of awarding the AVICENNA INTERNATIONAL PRIZE was held in Paris. The awards were presented by the President of the French Medical Academy, Professor Tran Ba Huy. The ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to France Sardor Rustambaev.

The World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan, with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in France, has installed a bronze bust of Avicenna in the throne hall of the Board of Directors of the French Medical Academy. The bust is a sign of gratitude and deepest respect for the memory of the outstanding scientist.

The ceremony participants thanked Uzbekistan, the World Society and the Embassy of Uzbekistan in France for this initiative.

"We express our special gratitude to the Board of Trustees of World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan for its contribution to the implementation of this project. Please accept this bust, which stands before you, as a symbol of our cooperation and a gift on behalf of the Uzbek people. This event will remain in history and will become a worthy contribution to the younger generation in studying the legacy of the great scientist Avicenna," said Sardor Rustambaev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to France.

"I am very pleased to take part in the ceremony and highly welcome the initiative of the World Society to establish the Bust of Avicenna in the French Academy of Medicine. Avicenna is an absolute genius of the Uzbek land, but also he is an important part of the European and global heritage. I am deeply grateful to your country for establishing another cultural bridge between Uzbekistan and France," Joel Chandelier, Professor at the University of Paris, said at the ceremony of the establishing the bust of Avicenna.

"The installation of the bust of the outstanding humanist Avicenna at the French Academy of Medicine is a great honor and pride for all of us! Today, Uzbekistan, deeply aware of the importance of the scientific and spiritual heritage left by great thinkers and scientists, pays more attention to their legacy than ever before. This is admirable! Vivat Uzbekistan, Vivat France, Vivat Avicenna!" Karim Ifrak, Islamic scholar, expert of the French National Research Center, noted.

Also, a solemn ceremony of awarding the AVICENNA INTERNATIONAL PRIZE was held at the Great Amphitheatre of the Medical Academy in Paris. This year, representatives of the European Union, the Mediterranean and Central Asian countries wereawarded the high award "for the promotion of philosophical and medical research and cooperation between the countries of the European Union, the Mediterranean and Central Asia". Our compatriot, Bakhtier Fazylov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan is among the awardees. The ceremony was also attended by the President of the French Medical Academy, Prof. Tran Ba Huy.

"We know that the World Society is implementing a number of major projects, and pays great attention to the study of the works created by the great Avicenna. And we have decided to note this noble and painstaking work. I would like to thank the World Society and the award winner Bakhtiyor Fazilov for his efforts to preserve the cultural legacy of Uzbekistan and its promotion abroad", - said Prof. Mark Bonnel, President of AVICENNE-France, Executive Secretary of the Prize.

For reference: AVICENNA INTERNATIONAL PRIZE was established in 2015 "for the promotion of philosophical and medical research and cooperation between the countries of the European Union, the Mediterranean and Central Asia.