First high-level meeting of international organizations takes place in the framework of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue

First high-level meeting of international organizations took place in the framework of the 4^th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue held in Baku, May 5.

First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the meeting:

- Your Excellency.

Esteemed Guests.

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Friends.

First of all, I would like to welcome you to the first high-level assembly of international organizations in the framework of the 4^th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

I would also like to thank for the very active support provided by our Forum partners in the organization of this significant event.

Before switching from the sessions of this event to the topics, I would like to say a few words about our country.

Azerbaijan is one of the rare countries at the crossroads of the geographical and cultural diversities of the world. Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the harmonic combination of the East and West, as well as of the contemporary and historical periods.

For centuries, Azerbaijan has been a space where communities and nations with different origin and religion lived in the environment of mutual cooperation and friendship. Known as the Door of the East, located at the crossroads of different cultures and civilizations, the East and the West, the North and the South, and, finally, a member of both Islamic and European organizations, Azerbaijan incorporates values of many civilizations.

Along with the significant role that different peoples living in Azerbaijan have been playing in our country’s public and political life, we have seen obviously how they fully preserved their ethnic values, religions and traditions. Along with ethnic and religious tolerance, the environment of national and cultural diversity have turned our country into a place where a number of nationalities and religions coexist, and made it a platform for intercultural dialogue on a global level.

Azerbaijan has a history of fruitful and efficient cooperation with various international organizations. We have been holding such a first assembly emphasizing Azerbaijan’s increasing role in promoting intercultural dialogue on the international level.

The first high-level assembly of international organizations has been organized on the basis of partnership between the Azerbaijani government, the Council of Europe, UNESCO, the UN’s Alliance of Civilizations, ISESCO, the UN’s World Tourism Organization and FAO. An active member of these organizations, Azerbaijan has held a number of important international events.

Azerbaijan is one of the rare countries, which is a member of both the European Council and the Islamic Cooperation Organization. We are glad an active cooperation between these two leading international organizations started by the “Baku Process” in 2008. Today, the “Baku Process” is a very important and rare international initiative.

It is of great symbolic essence that Baku hosted the first European Games in 2015, and the next week the 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games will start. As a result of these two events, representatives of over 100 countries have come and will come to Baku. We think this is part of the “Baku process”. In addition to important initiatives making nations and religions closer to each other, Azerbaijan has implemented various humanitarian and charitable projects. Let me cite some of them:

- construction of a girls’ school in Pakistan in the place of the one destroyed as a result of the earthquake in 2005;

- restoration of ancient Marcellino and Pietro catacombs in Rome;

- restoration of historical monuments in the Versailles Palace;

- construction of schools, mosques and churches, rehabilitation centres, medical establishments and recreation parks in a number of cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Serbia;

- restoration of some 20 local churches in the Lower Normandy region of France, as well as stained-glass windows in the Strasbourg Cathedral;

- restoration of ancient manuscripts at Vatican’s Apostle Library, reformatting them into digital, and restoration of a number of monuments in Vatican museums;

- participation in the establishment of an Islamic art section in the Louvre Museum;

- restoration of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tyrnovo city;

- participation in restoration of Germany’s Berlin Church;

- restoration of the Philosopher’s Hall in the Capitoline Museum in Rome, Italy.

These examples clearly shows our strong belief in the potential and existence of the intercultural dialogue. The contribution we have made to preservation of the global cultural heritage manifests Azerbaijan’s unambiguous connectedness to multiculturalism values.

Dear friends, there is a strong need today in the world for the preservation and promotion of civilization values on the basis of mutual understanding. In the framework of this process, great responsibility rests on governments, politicians, international organizations, and the media. This process still faces strong challenges at the moment.

Millions of people in the world suffer from poverty, famine, social inequality, and threats to health, while others suffer from natural and anthropogenic disasters, violent extremism, terror and humanitarian crisis.

We can say that sometimes the international law is practically not followed, or its norms are violated as a result of double standards. Actually, issues concerning a human life and everyone’s right to safe life are among the highest principles, and should be protected. From this perspective, dialogue and cooperation between cultures and religions are at the core of the society’s development, along with the principles of mutual understanding and respect.

In order to achieve our goal, the world should, by building mutual relations between the nations, creating stronger relations, remove such obstacles as extremism and xenophobia. We highly appreciate the support of international organizations, financial and economic institutions, and acknowledge that this is an integral part of that process.

The objective of holding this high-level assembly is to discuss issues facing political, economic, cultural, social, financial and other international organizations of the world concerning human safety, sustainable development and inclusive society. We are also trying to take measures in order to remove tensions between cultures and civilizations, as they sometimes create religious, cultural and social obstacles. This initiative will be an additional platform in the joint endeavours towards mobilizing resources and making the world a safer place. Therefore, the holding of the first high-level assembly with participation of representatives of international organizations will ensure the understanding between cultures, mutual respect, tolerance, the ethics of global citizenship, and joint responsibility.

We all recognize cultural diversity in the world. When it comes to cultures and civilizations, they should contribute to sustainable development. Solving all these issues is not an easy task. We all have different cultural origin. We think and should at least acknowledge that there are different perspectives, and they remain open.

In conclusion, of course, we note that a dialogue does not mean an immediate agreement, simple understanding, or solution of other issues. This is an attempt towards bridging a gap between different ideas and stereotypes. This, of course, is better than a conflict. I wish you interesting discussions. I think hereby our mission will become stronger. We will continue our dialogue and make sure that most of the challenges are removed. Thank you very much, thank you for coming to Baku. Thank you for your attention.