2 December 2008
AZERTAC state news agency

On December 2, the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Culture kicked off at the Gulustan Palace in Baku on the theme of 'Intercultural dialogue as a basis for peace and sustainable development in Europe and its neighboring regions.'

President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the conference.

The event brought together representatives of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), Islamic International Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ISESCO), European Commission, officials of UNESCO, numerous international organizations and foundation, over 250 delegates, including 16 Ministers, 18 Deputy Ministers, heads of 10 international organizations.

The two-day conference will focus on intercultural dialogue and opportunities for transnational cooperation, using the unique potential of culture, the arts and heritage. As noted at the Conference, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed over hundred decrees and orders to develop culture and tourism in the country over the last few years. The country has joined 71 relevant conventions since 2004.

President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva is greatly contributing to preserving and popularizing Azerbaijan`s cultural heritage throughout the world.

On November 4, 2008 Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed an order setting up an Organizing Committee – headed by Prime Minister Artur Rasizade - to deal with preparation and conduct of the Baku conference of the ministers of cultural affairs.

Prior to the start of the event, the participants viewed an exhibition displayed in the Gulustan Palace`s foyer, featuring Azerbaijani carpets, folk musical instruments, ancient weapons and samples of folk art. The guests were also impressed by photos reflecting nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev`s and President Ilham Aliyev`s contribution to developing culture and art in the country.

Afterwards, the official opening ceremony took place.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis were greeted with a long round of stormy applause from the audience.

The Conference was opened by Azerbaijani Culture Minister Abulfaz Garayev who called the dialogue among civilizations “one of the most crucial requirements of the contemporary world.”

He said the conduct of the conference is a vivid example of how many big efforts are being made towards strengthening and developing a dialogue between various peoples and states.

The Minister thanked President Ilham Aliyev for his support for organizing the conference.

Abulfaz Garayev said inter-religious dialogue is one of the key priorities for Azerbaijan.

He also praised President Ilham Aliyev`s contributions to developing the dialogue among religions both within the country and on the international scale.

President Ilham Aliyev addressed the conference with speech.

The Head of the State noted great value of the Forum, expressing confidence, that it will play an exclusive role in dialogue strengthening between cultures. As he said, Azerbaijan last years has achieved big successes in questions of national and religious tolerance. “In our country representatives of all religions always lived in the atmosphere of friendship and brotherhood, and it is the important distinctive feature of Azerbaijan”, President Aliyev underlined.

Speaking about cooperation of the country with the Council of Europe, the Head of State underlined, that Azerbaijan which about eight years is a member of this influential international organization, for the last years has achieved big progress in democratic development. He expressed confidence, that cooperation with ŃĹ will be continued in the future, and it will open to the country additional possibilities.

President Ilham Aliyev noticed that the Azerbaijani people are much adhered to the cultural and historical heritage. “The Azerbaijani people over centuries have been deprived independence. We have only a short period of independence. But, despite it, our history, culture, the literature, the native language have protected the Azerbaijani people from assimilation, and today it is the owner of its destiny”, he said. Speaking about successes of Azerbaijan, the Head of the State underlined, that for last four years the country is the leader in the world on rates of economic growth, poverty level was reduced from 49 to 16 percent and till the end of this year will decrease even more, and struggle against unemployment is successfully conducted.” He also has noticed that the country looks ahead with optimism.

According to the President, Azerbaijan is very stable country from the political point of view, and there are available successes in strengthening of economic potential. At the same time, the Head of the State told, reforms in Azerbaijan proceed and will be continued.

Concerning the situation on Southern Caucasus, President Ilham Aliyev supported the settlement of all conflicts in region. “Establishment of peace here would open possibilities for all-round cooperation”, he said. “Last events on Southern Caucasus show, that the international rules of law should be provided in full. When they are broken there are very serious and dangerous processes”, the President emphasized. He noticed, that the biggest danger to region continues to remain unsettlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Head of the State accused Armenia of ignoring of the resolutions and decisions of the international organizations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, OIC, demanding to put an end to occupation of the Azerbaijani territories. “It is the greatest threat to the processes occurring in region”, he said, having underlined, that territorial integrity of Azerbaijan should be restored, and the occupied lands be released from aggressors. President Ilham Aliyev also ascertained that as a result of occupation and military aggression of Armenia big damage was caused to cultural heritage of Azerbaijan that is confirmed also by the international organizations, including OSCE fact-finding mission in 2005. At the same time, he noticed, that in Azerbaijan there is big respect for cultural, historical heritage of the people living in the country.

At the Conference, also speaking was the Secretary General of Council of Europe Terry Davis, the head of CE Ministerial Committee from Spain Guillermo Corral Van Damme, the representative of the Congress of CE Local and Regional Authorities Farid Mukhametshin, the representative of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, MP of Azerbaijan Rafael Huseynov, General Director of ALESCO Mongi Bousnina, General Director of ISESCO Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, the director of UNESCO Division for the cultural policy and international dialogue Katerina Stenou.

Then a “round table” of the topic “About intercultural conformity” took place.

The Conference will continue on December 3.