Round table chairs address Baku International Humanitarian Forum
By Amina Nazarli
The 5th Baku International Humanitarian Forum heard speeches from chairs of round table meetings to be held on September 30.
The session was chaired by Azerbaijani Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, who noted the importance of the Forum. He said round tables will focus on a wide range of pressing issues of global importance. He noted that the Azerbaijani government attaches great importance to humanitarian issues.
Vincenzo Scotti, President of Link Campus University, Italy, will chair "Different Models of Multiculturalism: from Theory to Humanitarian Practice" round table. Speaking at the event, he provided an insight into the agenda of the round table. He said the Forum was a brilliant opportunity for acclaimed scientists from different parts of the world to give their message to younger generations. He underlined the importance of building dialogue for ensuring peaceful co-existence of people.
Rashid Khalikov, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for his part, highlighted the issues to be discussed at the round table "The Importance of Preserving the Human Capital in Conditions of Mass Migration as a Basis for Sustainable Development". He drew the audience`s attention to migration problem. Khalikov also praised the organization of the Baku Forum.
Mikhail Gusman, First Deputy Director General of the Russian
news agency TASS, spoke of the topics to be discussed at
"Transforming of Journalism for the Information Age and its Role in
Ensuring Inter-Civilizational Dialogue" round table. He praised
multiculturalism and tolerance in Azerbaijan.
"For centuries people of different religious and ethnic background
have lived together in peace, friendship and harmony in the
country," he said. Gusman emphasized positive and negative aspects
of the media and social networks.
Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation,
founder of the International Dialogue Initiative for Protection of
Environment–IDEA, provided an insight into the agenda of
"Sustainable Development and Ecological Civilization" round
table.
"Azerbaijan is a land of ancient traditions and rich history, a
place that sits at the crossroad between East and West, where
Eastern wisdom and Western progress meet," she said. "In the days
gone by, Azerbaijan was a major center on the historic silk route.
This had a major impact on our culture making Azerbaijan a country
that at its heart believes in tolerance, new ideas and dialogue.
This unique geographic position of Azerbaijan also had an impact on
our landscapes. Our country is a place of wonderful snowcapped
mountains, sharp cliffs, rivers, deep forests, meadows, and
lowlands."
Leyla Aliyeva went on speaking of the history of the establishment of IDEA. "We all know that governments carry out the primary responsibility for the protection of environment, but without active civil engagement, especially youth, it is impossible to ensure sustainable development. Therefore, in 2011 we have launched IDEA – the international campaign for dialogue and environmental action. Our intention was to educate and invite youth not only in Azerbaijan, but also around the world to protect the nature! Our slogan speaks for itself "One earth and future". "We try to carry out all our projects in a creative, artistic and optimistic way. Over the past five years, we have achieved many positive results such as planting more than 5 million trees, protecting the endangered species, organizing lectures, classes and exhibitions to raise the awareness!" she emphasized.
Mark Rosenblatt, Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, USA, in turn, drew the audience`s attention to what will be discussed at "Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Biotechnology and Issues of Personnel Training in Modern Medicine: Innovative and Ethical Problems" round table. He said the round table will address the challenges of modern medical science and the problem of medical education, innovative and ethical problems of molecular biology, biophysics, biotechnology in the modern era.
Aleksandr Bugaev, Member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of Laboratory of the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics named after V.A.Kotelnikov, will chair round table "Converging Technologies and Predictions for the Future: the Main Challenges of the 21st Century". Addressing the event, he said the issues to be discussed at the round table include security issues of nuclear technology and fusion energy, issues of expanding the scope and sources of renewable energy, convergence of radiation-, nano- and bionano-technology.
Baku International Humanitarian Forum is an annual platform for famous representatives of political, scientific and cultural elite of the world community including famous statesmen, Nobel Prize winners in various fields of science and leaders of influential international organizations for holding dialogues, discussions and exchange of views on a wide range of global issues in the interest of all humanity.
The two-day Forum features plenary sessions and speeches of the
round table chairs.
