Azernews.Az

Kamal Abdullayev, State Counselor for multiculturalism, international and religious affairs met Alexis Chahtahtinsky, OSCE Project coordinator in Baku, AzerTag state news agency reported.

They exchanged views over President Ilham Aliyev`s thoughts, which he expressed during an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel on Azerbaijani multiculturalism, traditions of tolerance in the country, and ongoing processes in the Islamic world.

They also talked about the study and recognition of ongoing genocide crimes in the world, and future projects to be jointly implemented by the OSCE Baku Office and Baku International Multiculturalism Center.

Ambassador Chahtahtinsky hailed President Aliyev`s address to the attendees of international conference on “Strengthening religious tolerance (Azerbaijan`s model of religious tolerance and existing challenges in the OSCE area and beyond)” and expressed gratitude to the head of state for his sensibility to the event.

The conference was co-organized by the OSCE Project coordinator in Baku, Azerbaijani government, the Caucasus Muslims Board and the National Commission of Azerbaijan for UNESCO in Baku last month. The diplomat said that the foreign delegates hailed the common situation in the country.

He also spoke about his activities in prevention of ethnic and religious confrontations, studying genocide crimes at the educational system of various states, and strengthening of enlightenment on terrible actions, including xenophobia, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

Speaking on the activity of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, Abdullayev said the center was focused on raising public awareness on the issue.

"The center was established under President Aliyev`s order on studying historic roots of terrible ongoing global tendencies, taking prevention measures against them, protection of tolerant and multicultural atmosphere in the country and prevention of terrible trends, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia from taking roots in Azerbaijan,” he added.

He underlined that the subjects “introduction to multiculturalism” and “Azerbaijani multiculturalism” would be included in the next year education programs of Azerbaijani and some foreign universities.

The sides hailed mutual cooperation and stressed the importance for future relations in conducting joint projects.