The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue started in Gulustan palace in Baku on April 7.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony, Azerbaijani President's official website reported.
The World forum, which is supported by UNESCO, UN Alliance of Civilizations, Council of Europe, North-South Center of the Council of Europe, ISESCO and the Euronews, and held for the first time in such a format in the world, marks a recognition that intercultural dialogue is one of the most pressing challenges of the world.
The Baku forum will discuss the conceptual, managerial, political and practical aspects of intercultural dialogue, revise the obstacles on its way. Discussions will focus on how the dialogue can be realized better in different contexts. The Forum will also create opportunities for sharing good practice and forwarding new initiatives.
The forum under the motto "United through common values, enriched by cultural diversity" will bring together ministers of culture, deputy ministers, representatives of the leading international organizations, director general of ISESCO, deputy director general of UNESCO, Chairman of the PACE, parliamentarians and diplomats, mayors, eminent figures of culture and scientists.
Euronews, which acts as the Forum media partner, is covering the event.
The Forum began with a demonstration of a video-film devoted to Azerbaijan.
Aliyev made an opening speech at the Forum.
"Holding an intercultural forum in Azerbaijan is of great importance. I am very pleased that our guests have accepted the invitation and arrived in Azerbaijan. I believe a very frank, open and extensive exchange of views will be held today and tomorrow. I hope that the Forum will be very positive and open new opportunities for the intercultural dialogue development," he said.
President Aliyev said it is no coincidence that the Forum is held in Azerbaijan. "The Baku Process is underway for two years. The process was founded in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan invited representatives of the Islamic countries during a meeting of the Culture Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2008 and a very frank and open exchange of views was recorded at the joint event. The meeting adopted a "Baku Declaration". It was the first ever international event in this format. A meeting of the culture ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Baku in 2009 brought together the European countries' representatives, who met in the same format. Baku hosted the World Summit of Religious Leaders in 2010. The summit was of great importance and today we see its positive results," Aliyev said.
"Baku is hosting the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue this year ," he said. "Azerbaijan will also organize the first international humanitarian forum in autumn 2011. So, all these events is evidence that the contents of intercultural dialogue is saturated where a strong will exists and these meetings bring the nations even more closer and more unite us. These are our intentions," President Aliyev said.
"We want all peoples and representatives of all religions to closely interact with each other, openly discuss all the issues and express their thoughts. Baku, Azerbaijan has become a traditional venue for such authoritative events. Of course, it also has geographical, historical and cultural foundations, as all peoples and all religions lived as one family in Azerbaijan for centuries. Regardless of the socio-political system, Azerbaijan has never recorded a confrontation on a national or religious grounds, and even confusion. People lived as one family in Azerbaijan in all times and friendly ties related them. We are very pleased that now at a time of Azerbaijan's development as an independent country, these positive trends are growing even stronger," he added.
Representatives of all nations are equal citizens in Azerbaijan, Aliyev said. The country protects all historical and religious monuments, he said. Azerbaijan fully established freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. During its independence, the state built and repaired hundreds of religious monuments - mosques, churches, synagogues, and this process in underway today.
"Existence of a high level ethnic and religious indulgence and tolerance in Azerbaijan is already a fact, and it is the source of our strength. The strength of any society is its religious and ethnic diversity. We are absolutely confident that a normal relationship can be built in any society regardless of religious and national factors. Of course, this requires tradition, while the state policy also must be pursued at the right level. Both factors exist in Azerbaijan. Our history provides us the current conditions. In addition, our state policy in this area is clear. I want to reiterate that our strength is our unity. Regardless of nationality and religion, any person living in Azerbaijan is our valuable citizen. I have no doubt that issues of national and religious tolerance will be further successfully resolved in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani citizens will further live as one family," President Aliyev stressed.
"We want our country's accumulated experience to be studied, and possibly cause interest of other countries, as it is a truly unique experience. The beginning and successful continuation of the "Baku process" suggest that we can achieve the goal by demonstrating the political will," he stressed.
Aliyev expressed hope that the Forum on Intercultural Dialogue will become a traditional, and similar events will be held in Azerbaijan in subsequent years.
"The history of Azerbaijan's independence, though short, but is indicative," President Aliyev said. "We were able to turn from the country in ruins, or one can say the collapsed, into a modern and developing state, which is increasing its role in the region. The Azerbaijani people did it. We have achieved this thanks to the talent and hard work of the Azerbaijani people. Today we are engaged in not only domestic issues."
