Azerbaijan shares its unique experience of multiculturalism at UN Global Forum in Baku
By Aynur Karimova
The 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), which was held in Baku on April 25-27, was of significant importance for Azerbaijan. This event gave Azerbaijan an opportunity to show the world its tolerance and multiculturalism experience gained for many centuries.
This event also showed that Azerbaijan, being a Muslim country, is a successful model of peaceful coexistence of different religions and ethnic groups. The Forum also was a very good moment to show the world that a Muslim country can be tolerant and embrace the principles and values of coexistence.
Given that 2016 was announced the Year of Multiculturalism in Azerbaijan, multiculturalism is a state policy in the country, what has made Baku an ideal place for holding the 7th UNAOC Global Forum.
The Forum was attended by over 2,500 guests from 120 countries, including UN member states, political leaders, the representatives of international and regional organizations, donor organizations and funds, private sector, as well as media representatives and academicians.
In these three days, the attendees of the Forum on the theme “Living Together in Inclusive Societies: A Challenge and A Goal” discussed the most challenging issues of the today's global world. The Forum has sent a very important message to the world about stopping conflicts, violence and terror, as well as to live in a world without wars, conflicts and intolerance.
Experts believe that the Forum gives an opportunity to discuss global issues, to find solutions, as well as to get acquainted with Azerbaijan's realities.
Being a Muslim majority country, Azerbaijan is a home to a big Jewish community, to Catholics, Protestants and members of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is a unique example of peaceful coexistence of peoples and it explains why Baku was chosen as the venue for the Global Forum.
The Forum has become a very important event, bringing together many cultures, many civilizations, many countries came in Baku, the pearl of the Caspian Sea. It demonstrated once again that tolerance is the symbol of Azerbaijan.
The milestone of the Forum was adoption of the Baku Declaration by the group of friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, which envisions peaceful initiatives.
According to UN Radio, among the major outcomes from the Global Forum Baku 2016 was the unanimous adoption of the Baku Declaration, a political document that will guide future efforts towards achieving the goals of UNAOC - a body mandated to promote harmony among nations.
The Baku Declaration calls for the implementation of the commitments made there so that the governments, with the support of the civil society, can overcome challenges and move forward towards the goals of living together in inclusive societies for sustainable development.
“Through the Baku Declaration, the Group of Friends reaffirmed its support to UNAOC and expressed its conviction that UNAOC plays an important role as a global platform for sharing good practices for living together in inclusive societies,” UNAOC High Representative Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser said at the closing session.
The outcome document condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audiovisual or electronic media or any other means.
It also stresses the importance of implementing UNAOC's goals at the national level and supports the High Representative in his efforts, including the advancement of UNAOC programming as an instrument to address conditions conducive to the spread of violent extremism.
Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca believes that in order to achieve progress in the world, peoples should live in solidarity, in a society where human rights and freedoms are protected and respected.
"People are concerned about the growing inequalities. Fear is sowing the seeds of discord. We should keep social inclusion in our hands as a flag. Baku Declaration will promote the principles of justice and equality," she noted.
Azerbaijan's main message to the participants of the event was clear: Baku is ready to share its experience of tolerance collected for many decades.
Azerbaijan for many years has been a good place where the representatives of various religions, cultures and civilizations coexisted. President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the opening of the forum, Azerbaijan is not only a geographic bridge between East and West, but it is a cultural bridge as well.
Azerbaijan is a unique land where tolerance and multiculturalism is a main direction in the foreign and domestic policy. Today, Azerbaijan is a multiethnic and multiconfessional country, where the members of all religions and ethnicities live in dignity and peace.
"This is one of our biggest assets," President Aliyev said. "And we're proud of our history. We are proud of our historical monuments, which reflect the creation of representatives of different cultures."
In 2008, Azerbaijan initiated the Baku Process, which further became the broad platform for international dialogue. Azerbaijan is one of the few countries, which is the member of the Islamic Cooperation Organization and the Council of Europe.
Next year, in 2009, Azerbaijan hosted the ministerial meeting of the ministers of cultures of the Islamic Cooperation Organization in Baku and invited the ministers of culture of Council of Europe. This was named the Baku Process.
Experts believe that this Forum once again approved the increasing prestige of Azerbaijan, its hospitality, its tolerance and multiculturalism experience. By holding this Forum, Azerbaijan once again confirmed its unofficial status of "diplomatic capital of the region" and an important center of intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue.
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