Helsinki, April 29, AZERTAC

An Azerbaijani delegation led by State Adviser on Multinational, Multicultural and Religious Affairs, Academician Kamal Abdulla has met State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland Samuli Virtanen.

The delegation included Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Head of the Community of Azerbaijan's Mountain Jews Milikh Yevdayev, head of Baku European Jews Community Gennadi Zelmanovich, Archbishop of Baku and Azerbaijan eparchy Alexander Ishein, Head of the Catholic community in Azerbaijan Ordinary Vladimir Fekete, Member of the Parliament Javanshir Pashazade and Executive Director of Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azad Mammadov.

Samuli Virtanen stressed the importance of the “Multiculturalism and interreligious tolerance: Azerbaijan`s experience and its importance for Europe” conference held in Helsinki. The State Secretary said his country is interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan.

State Adviser on Multinational, Multicultural and Religious Affairs, Academician Kamal Abdulla highlighted the aim of their visit, saying Azerbaijan attaches great importance to deepening relationship with the international organizations.

Kamal Abdulla spoke about what the Azerbaijani government has been doing to preserve and promote multiculturalism globally. He said that Azerbaijan`s model of multiculturalism is now studied by a number of countries.

Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli informed about the State Committee`s activity and said that Azerbaijan has developed an exemplary model of multiculturalism, adding the country pays special attention to preservation and further development of historical and cultural heritage. He also highlighted the socio-political developments after the country gained its state independence, the enormous efforts the national leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev made for construction of legal-democratic state, the socio-economic reforms conducted under his leadership, as well as the reforms in the legal-enforcement bodies to establish stability in the country. “These policy is today being continued thanks to President Ilham Aliyev.”

Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade highlighted living in peace and stability of representatives of various confessions in the country, adding various peoples of the region have historically enjoyed good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation based on the robust tolerance traditions, mutual respect and trust.

The Azerbaijani delegation presented Samuli Virtanen the books and gifts on the country`s multicultural, tolerance environment.