Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of the second World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku on May 30.

The forum, titled "Living together peacefully in a diverse world", started in the Azerbaijani capital on May 29 and will last until June 1.

The forum is being held under the patronage of President Aliyev. The main partners of the forum are UNESCO, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the Council of Europe, ISESCO and the UN World Tourism Organization.

The first Ministerial Conference of the international forum will also be held as part of the event.

The President made a speech at the ceremony. President Aliyev said holding the forum on intercultural dialogue is a reflection of the Baku process, which started in 2008.

"I think it was a very important event in modern history, and the beginning of the extensive process was remembered by the participation of culture ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states at a meeting of the culture ministers of the Council of Europe member states in Baku in 2008," the President said.

The meeting of the culture ministers of the OIC states was later joined by their colleagues from the CoE, he said.

"It means that Baku, along with its role of a geographical bridge, also serves as an intercultural bridge," President Aliyev said in his speech.

The President also said that during the first forum, he voiced an initiative for the event to become a traditional one.

"I am very pleased that our friends supported this initiative and today are participating at the forum together with us," he said.

President Aliyev recalled that a very important event took place in 2010.

"The World Summit of Religious Leaders was held in Baku then and the first Forum was held in 2011. The Baku process is developing and I am confident that the ongoing discussions at this forum, exchange of views and reports will contribute to our cause," the President said.

"Because we all want inter-religious and inter-cultural relations in the world to find their solution on a wholesome basis, cooperation tendencies to be intensified, unpleasant instances to be prevented, and the positive trends to dominate in the development of inter-civilizational dialogue in the world."

President Aliyev noted with regret that so far it has been impossible to achieve the desired goal in full.

"Because there are conflicts on religious and ethnic grounds in different parts of the world, there are civil wars, and tendencies of misunderstanding are growing. And I think that the discussion of these important issues in this format will contribute to our cause, to our cooperation," he said.

According to President Aliyev, holding this Forum in Baku is no coincidence.

"Azerbaijan has been home to the nations living here and representatives of all religions for centuries. We are proud that today Azerbaijan is an independent, multi-ethnic and multi-faith country. Representatives of all religions, all nations live as one family in peace, friendship and understanding. This is our great wealth and great advantage, and I believe that this factor played a role in the successful development of Azerbaijan," he underscored.

The head of state stressed that regardless of the social and political order, Azerbaijan has been a place of religious tolerance at all times.

"I am very pleased that in the period of independence, we have been able not only to protect but also to maintain the positive trends, I believe that we have intensified them even more, and we do not limit our activity by the margins of the country," Aliyev said.

The President also underlined the significance of Azerbaijan's initiatives in the world.

"I believe that all of our regional initiatives -- both political and economic, and initiatives related to other areas -- create good conditions for regional cooperation," he said. "And holding international and interethnic dialogue further reinforces these positive trends. Countries can have and, of course, do have political interests, and there are also economic interests. Countries are united in many cases by their interests. But I believe that relations between nations should be built on a wholesome basis in order to strengthen the positive trends of cooperation."

According to President Aliyev, the agenda of the Forum is quite extensive.

"The issues to be discussed here are of great importance, and opinions will be voiced which are associated with our views on a common future," he said.

The President added that the common future is a very important issue.

"This world has a place for every nation, as long as there is peace, prosperity and mutual understanding. We see the success of cooperation in the development of Azerbaijan. All of our steps associated with our regional initiatives are aimed at cooperation, and through cooperation and mutual support, we fully ensure our economic and political interests. As for regional cooperation, I believe that our positive experience may be of interest to others," President Aliyev said.

The President noted that at the same time, Azerbaijan is not only a multi-ethnic and multi-faith country, but also one of the rare countries that are members of both the Council of Europe and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

"Azerbaijan is very active in both organizations and holds a very firm position in these organizations. I believe that these features make a contribution also to the development of the Forum on Intercultural Dialogue," he said.

Aliyev noted that in addition, last year the most grandiose song contest of Europe, and perhaps of the world, Eurovision, took place in Baku.

"In 2015, Azerbaijan will host the first European Olympic Games. This shows that to hold intercultural dialogue, Azerbaijan has not only good ground and basis. At the same time, with our initiatives, foreign policy and contribution to the intercivilization dialogue, we further enhance this cooperation. This is an important issue, because we are all witnesses of both positive and negative tendencies in the world," President Aliyev said.

According to the President, concepts such as tolerance and multiculturalism have always existed, and Azerbaijan "is one of the addresses of multiculturalism".

"As I have already noted, representatives of all nations and religions live in Azerbaijan as one family. Historical monuments of all religions are protected in Azerbaijan. We have great respect for our historical past. The beautiful religious monument Ateshgah is protected in Baku," he said.

The Baku forum includes a series of workshops, side-events and special sessions chaired by partner organizations and is attended by the heads of international organizations, current and former presidents of some countries, ministers of over 100 countries from around the world, and experts.

UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser said at the forum that holding such events in Baku where many cultures are represented is significant.

"This event demonstrates diversity and inclusion in the modern world," he said. "This is a very necessary compass concerning the prevention of xenophobia and marginalization. Unfortunately, there is still intolerance of one nation toward another in some parts of the world. This phenomenon is very dangerous."

"Preventing this is an important task for the leaders in each society," he said. "We demand a responsible attitude of the heads of state to this issue. The Alliance of Civilizations, which is important, was created to prevent such instances. The media, business sector and civil society should be involved in this. A new mentality and a new attitude toward diversity will create a new reality."

"I hope that what we discuss in Baku will be reflected worldwide," Al-Nasser said.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said in her speech that participation in the forum is a great honor and expressed gratitude for this opportunity to the Azerbaijani President and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

"Azerbaijan has become a center of culture. The Old City is already inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Novruz holiday is on the list of intangible heritage along with mugham," Bokova said.

According to her, opening up new opportunities for the development of cultural diversity both between and within countries is very important in the current complicated conditions of conflict and crises.

"For UNESCO, peace is achieved not only through economic and political action, but also on an intellectual level. New forms of dialogue are required and therefore the years 2013-2022 are declared the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures," Bokova noted.

Secretary General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri said addressing the forum that the rapprochement of cultures is the main factor that will save civilization.

"It is very important for me to attend such an event," Altwaijri said, thanking President Aliyev for the invitation to take part in the forum. He stressed that Azerbaijan today hosts such events owing to his wise policy.

Altwaijri wished the Azerbaijani people peace and stability under such a wise leadership.

"At present, the main problems in the world arise due to the lack of dialogue, mutual trust and other factors," he said. "Firstly, dialogue should be conducted between the intellectual elite, because its representatives form future generations."

Altwaijri said that the rapprochement of cultures creates suitable conditions for the intellectual dialogue to avoid mistakes of the past. "This is a way to prevent violence," he added.

The Forum workshops cover such themes as "How to build the world's future together", "How to muster popular support for cultural diversity", "Supporting intercultural activities", "Tourism as a key driver of mutual understanding and tolerance among cultures" and "Intercultural dialogue through faith and science".

In accordance with President Aliyev's decree issued in May 2011, the Forum is held once every two years in Baku by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.