Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue reflects Azerbaijan’s long history – history of tradition, culture, intercultural dialogue and interreligious exchange, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova said during the forum in Baku May 5.
“I am deeply honored to participate in this 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue. Of course, my first gratitude goes to His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev for his longstanding leadership in promoting intercultural dialogue so much needed today,” noted Bokova.
“We need the soft power, the soft power of education and knowledge, of culture, communication, the sciences to strengthen the values we share and recognize the destiny we hold in common. All cultures are different, but humanity is a single family bound by respect for dignity and rights for all. This is our vision of the world. This is UNESCO’s vision. We need solidarity, we need understanding,” she added.
The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, titled “Advancing Intercultural Dialogue: New Avenues for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development”, brings together more than 800 foreign delegations, including high-ranking state and government officials, heads of international organizations, parliamentary leaders, renowned scholars, ambassadors and public figures.
This is for the first time that heads of more than 25 international organizations participate in the forum, which has become a platform for global cultural dialogue. The forum will feature a joint high-level meeting of the heads of international organizations for the first time this year, in addition to nearly 40 sessions and events.
The agenda includes topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.
The Forum is being organized for the fourth time as part of the “Baku Process” initiated by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in 2008.