Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.26
By Seba Aghayeva - Trend:
West needs to use Azerbaijan's experience in creating multicultural society, Bulgaria's Vice President Margarita Popova exclusively told Trend.
Azerbaijan, the country which is located at the crossroads of the West and East, can become a solid foundation and a bridge between the West and East namely though the multicultural dialogue, she said.
The West can learn much from Azerbaijan, said Popova, adding that however, two important elements are needed for this: first of all, the West should wish to do that and the second, it should cooperate with Azerbaijan in this sphere on an equal basis, but not by dictating to it.
"With our friends from Azerbaijan, we work for peace on the Earth and today, it is very important that we see what happens to the vast masses of people who live in the countries undergoing wars, and have to leave these countries," said the vice president.
Popova said that like Bulgaria, Azerbaijan underwent very hard times in 1990s and has bitter experience of conflict with Armenia which still continues.
"Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and first lady, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva make great efforts so that the state become an independent, stable and economically successful and take its rightful place in the world," she said. "I congratulate Azerbaijan which has reached these heights."
In today's turbulent world, Azerbaijan pursues its independent policy and builds its relations with other countries through the prism of multicultural dialogue, said Margarita Popova.
Furthermore, Popova said she had an opportunity in May to take part in the 3rd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue organized at Azerbaijan's initiative in Baku.
Today, multicultural dialogue is the basis of security, tolerance and mutual understanding between peoples, according to Bulgaria's vice president.
"We can build peace between different cultures and religions only within the multicultural dialogue," said Popova. "But Azerbaijan has long shown the world how to create a multicultural society and the whole world, especially Europe can use its experience."
Popova pointed out that Azerbaijanis are very proud people with a high sense of national dignity.
These are people who want to preserve the state's independence and achieve stability so that their children live under a peaceful sky, she said, adding that Azerbaijani people achieve all this by preserving their cultural heritage.
Bulgaria's vice president noted that Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva pays great attention to preserving the cultural heritage.
"As a politician, statesperson and as a Bulgarian citizen, I was strongly impressed by the decision of Azerbaijani state and personally, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva on restoring the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve in Bulgaria's Veliko Tarnovo city," said Popova.
The agreement "On conservation and restoration of Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve and construction and repair of its technical infrastructure" was signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, Bulgaria's Ministry of Culture and Bulgaria's embassy in Azerbaijan on May 27, 2015 in Sophia, Bulgaria.
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