Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 30
By Elena Kosolapova, Seba Aghayeva – Trend:
There is no place for anti-Semitism and religious intolerance in Azerbaijan, which is a home for many ethnicities, said Azerbaijan’s Education Minister Mikayil Jabbarov.
Jabbarov made the remarks Sept. 30 during the discussions within the 5th Baku International Humanitarian Forum, which kicked off Sept. 29 in Azerbaijan’s capital.
The Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism is acknowledged by many international organizations and forums, noted the minister.
Several languages – Azerbaijani, Russian, English and Turkish – are used in the country, he added.
Jabbarov also recalled that Azerbaijan announced 2016 as a year of multiculturalism.
Azerbaijan has always adhered to traditions of tolerance and multiculturalism, unlike Armenia, noted the minister.
He said Armenia continues its aggressor policy against Azerbaijan.
“The Armenian side always violates the ceasefire regime, shells the Azerbaijani settlements, as well as the schools located along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops,” said Jabbarov adding that 700 educational institutions were destroyed during the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.