National Tolerance Center opens in Azerbaijani capital
By Aynur Jafarova
Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations has organized an international presentation for the National Tolerance Center on May 29 within the second World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.
Addressing the event, Chairman of the State Committee, Elshad Iskandarov, said the idea to establish a tolerance center was put forward by Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva.
Iskandarov said tolerance unites and reflects Muslim values and also noted that the religious policy of the Azerbaijani government aims to establish a secular society.
"The construction of mosques and synagogues could be regarded as positive secularism," he said.
Secretary General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri said the establishment of the tolerance center is an opportunely taken step. The creation of this center will set an example for the world, he said.
This initiative will play a special role in the strengthening of inter-religious relations in Azerbaijan, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser said.
The main aim of the National Tolerance Center is to support and promote tolerance and to provide for mutual respect.
The second World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is being held in Baku from May 29 to June 1 under the slogan "Peaceful co-existence in a multicultural world".