16:49 - 21.05.2026

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May 21, Fineko/abc.az. Baku and the Iraqi city of Erbil have a lot in common.

ABC.AZ informs that Rufat Mahmud, Chairman of Board of the Icherisheher State Historical & Architectural Reserve, made the relevant statement at an event within the 13th session of the World Urban Planning Forum in Baku (WUF13).

He added that first of all, both cities belong to the oldest continuously inhabited urban centers: "Both cities have significant influence and are located at the intersection of different cultures and religions, which inevitably affects the culture of the people living there. Finally, the Citadel of Erbil is very similar to our Old City in Baku, and this is certainly a source of pride for all of us."

He noted that in the master plan, designed for 20 years (from 2020 to 2040), the Old Town is defined as the cultural center of the capital and, probably, of the whole country, as well as the center of creative industries: "Unlike the fortress, where there are currently no permanent residents, people live in our Old Town. Today, more than 3,000 people are living on an area of 22 hectares. One of the main priorities of our administration is to preserve the city as a living space and prevent it from becoming just an open-air museum or a tourist attraction. This is a key issue for us."