Azernews.Az

An international humanitarian forum seeking to discuss challenges facing the 21st century kicked off in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on Monday under the auspices of the Azerbaijani and Russian presidents.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the opening ceremony of the two-day forum.

The event is attended by prominent politicians, men of culture, scientists and heads of the world’s leading mass media from 20 countries. Participants include former presidents of Тurkey, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria.

The Russian delegation is led by head of Presidential Administration Sergei Naryshkin.

Attendees are addressing the humanitarian aspect of the 21st century’s hopes and challenges, with due regard for the realities of modern-day development. According to the Russian presidential representative for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi, the Baku forum may well turn into a kind of an intellectual Davos.

President Aliyev, in his remarks at the forum, said the idea to hold the event, put forward by intellectuals from Azerbaijan and Russia, was supported by the leaders of the two countries. Aliyev expressed confidence that the exchange of views at the forum would make a new contribution to the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian field.

The president noted that stability and the environment of friendship established in Azerbaijan in the post-independence period strengthen the country further. He said the ongoing domestic political and economic reforms aim to ensure that "Azerbaijani citizens live even better".

Aliyev said progress is also affecting the development of the humanitarian sector. He also stressed the importance of the education reform and the idea of turning "black gold" into human capital.

The Azerbaijani leader said the country’s political and economic initiatives in the world aim to provide a better life for its citizens and also seek to strengthen ties with neighboring countries.

"Let’s aspire toward even stronger relations between nations. This is a necessity," Aliyev said, adding that there is "public demand" for more effort in this area.

He added that it was important for the traditions of multiculturalism to "take deeper roots" in society.

Head of Russia’s Presidential Administration Naryshkin read out a congratulatory letter from President Dmitry Medvedev.

Turkey’s former President Suleyman Demirel also made a speech at the forum.

US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza read out a letter of ex-president Bill Clinton.

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Mevlut Cavusoglu also delivered a speech.

Janis Karklins, Assistant Director-General for UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector, read out a letter of Director General Irina Bokova.

ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri took the floor as well.