Mehriban Aliyeva attends exhibition on tolerance
By Nigar Orujova
An exhibition titled "Azerbaijan - a Space of Tolerance" opened at the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Paris on November 22.
Reflecting Azerbaijan's religious tolerance, the exhibition is held at the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and organized with support from the Azerbaijan State Committee for Works with Religious Entities.
Azerbaijan's First Lady and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and the Foundation's Vice-president Leyla Aliyeva attended the exhibition.
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbeyov noted that the photographer, Reza Deghati, is a great friend of both Azerbaijan and France.
Leyla Aliyeva addressed the ceremony, noting that the fact that people of different religious and ethnic relationship have lived in Azerbaijan for centuries in a peaceful environment contributed to the formation of a unique model of a tolerant society built on a strong and sound foundation and based on mutual respect.
According to her, multiculturalism and respect for ethnic and religious minorities has been a national characteristic of Azerbaijani people.
"Today's photo exhibition showing the intercultural and religious tolerance in our country is an obvious example of the consistent policy pursued by the state of Azerbaijan towards preserving this national characteristic, developing it further, and promoting it in the world."
French Senate's Caucasus-Azerbaijan Friendship Group's member Jean-Marie Bockel talked about the tolerance existing in Azerbaijan.
"As opposed to some European states trying to exclude multiculturalism from political turnover, Azerbaijan, which could manage to turn religious and cultural tolerance into a state policy, should be applauded for these achievements," Bockel said.
He mentioned his recent trip to Azerbaijan and his visit to Ganja and noted that the representatives of different nationalities are living in a friendly and peaceful environment, and the tolerant environment in Azerbaijan may be an example for other countries.
Bockel emphasized the importance of tolerance in building relations between people.
ISESCO Director General Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri said that after regaining its independence, Azerbaijan rapidly developed and achieved a unique harmony of cultural and religious diversity that has been formed in this country for centuries.
Just from this aspect Azerbaijan may be an example for a number of countries, especially the Islamic states, Altwaijri said.
He also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and called the occupation of the country's territory an intolerable fact for the civilized world.
Reza Deghati, the author of the photos being displayed at the exhibition and a world-renowned photographer who lives in Paris and is of Azerbaijani descent emphasized that the environment of tolerance he has come across in Azerbaijan was one of the unique models existing in the world, and thanked the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the support provided for this initiative.
The exhibition was attended by 500 guests consisting of state and government officials of France, the UNESCO Director General, the Mayor of the seventh arrondissement of Paris, senators, deputies, well-known figures of art, representative of French general public, and employees of the diplomatic corps in this country.