Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.2
By Seymur Aliyev - Trend:
Conducting of International Humanitarian Forum is a timely initiative, the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova said in a video message at the opening of the Fourth International Humanitarian Forum in Baku.
In her message, Bokova thanked the government of Azerbaijan for hosting the forum.
"Topics of this forum - multiculturalism, the transformation of the media, issues of science and technology, innovation and sustainable development - are important for the whole world," she said.
Bokova said that UNESCO, in turn, helps to strengthen the foundations for the creation of lasting peace and stability in society.
"In a rapidly changing world, all societies undergo a profound transformation," said Bokova. "We should promote freedom of expression, using the digital environment for the empowerment of individuals in construction of a free and democratic society."
UNESCO Director-General also said it is necessary to use the latest achievements of science and technology for the enrichment of human knowledge in order to use it for the common good.
"I believe that all of this is an evidence of fundamental changes in the humanitarian policy and strategy," Bokova said. "Culture, education, science, communication, information became an integral part of all emergency measures in response to basic human needs. UNESCO is committed to fully support this new approach."
The annual Baku International Humanitarian Forum this year is held October 2-3, and tours to Nakhchivan, Lankaran, Guba and Gabala regions will be organized October 4-5.
The forum involves well-known politicians, representatives of the social and political circles, figures of science and culture.