President: Azerbaijan plays the role of a bridge between civilizations and religions
Baku, March 16, AZERTAC
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has highlighted the country`s role as a bridge between civilizations and religions.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 5th Global Baku Forum, the head of state said: “I would like to mention our investments in the intercultural dialogue… In a two months` time, Azerbaijan will host the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue. It is also already traditional and it is also co-sponsored by such organizations like UNESCO, ISESCO, Council of Europe, World Tourism Organization, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. So it’s a global event, and I would say a unique event, which addresses the issues of intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the world.”
“Why Azerbaijan was selected? Not only because we initiated that, but because of our role as a bridge between civilizations and religions. Religious tolerance and the spirit of multiculturalism in Azerbaijan already makes us the center of this positive events. We attach very big importance to this forum and to this movement because this is what the world needs today.” “…Unfortunately, we talk about dialogue, but we see alienation, we talk about tolerance, but we see hatred, which is growing, which is a danger for all of us and for those in whose countries it happens, for those who suffer physically from that. Therefore, the role of Azerbaijan as a cultural bridge is important,” President Ilham Aliyev added.
