President: We pay special attention to preservation of ethnic and cultural diversity

An international conference titled “Traditions of religious tolerance in the Caucasus and Azerbaijan’s model of multiculturalism” kicked off in Baku on December 1.

Members of the Supreme religious council, state and religious figures, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Georgian Orthodox Church, and ambassadors of different countries attended the conference.

State Adviser on Multinational, Multicultural and Religious Affairs of Azerbaijan, Academician Kamal Abdulla read out President Ilham Aliyev's message to the conference participants.

"I'd like to heartily welcome you - participants of the international conference of the Supreme Religious Council of the Caucasian Peoples and extend my most sincere wishes.

Complicated socio-political processes taking place in a globalized world, undesirable phenomena as ethnic and religious conflicts, racial discrimination, religious extremism and Islamophobia observed," said the message.

The appeal of the head of state declared that there is a strong need in challenges of monotheistic religions as well as of peace, mercy, compassion and solidarity, inter-civilizational dialogue and cooperation against such cases threatening international security and well-being.

"Discussion of Azerbaijan's multiculturalism and tolerance traditions, recognized as a model in the world, has great scientific, social and political meaning. We pay special attention to preservation of ethnic and cultural diversity and multiculturalism in Azerbaijan."

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade said that relations between religion and state in multi-national and multi-confessional Azerbaijan, is at high level and developing day by day.

Sheikhulislam said that the conference serves to peace in the Caucasus and its protection against the backdrop of the racial, national, ethnic and other conflicts taking place across the world.

Pashazade noted Azerbaijan demonstrates a model of tolerance in this sense.

He highlighted peace and stability of representatives of various confessions in the country, adding that various peoples of the region have historically enjoyed good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation based on the robust tolerance traditions, mutual respect and trust.

"There is stability in Azerbaijan. Ethnic and religious tolerance is supported at the state level. The political will is of great importance in this issue," he said.

Head of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli said that Azerbaijan has developed an exemplary model of multiculturalism, adding that the country pays special attention to preservation and further development of historical and cultural heritage.

The committee chairman said tolerance in Azerbaijan is studied in 28 countries around the world

Gurbanli noted that about 57,000 terrorist acts have taken place in various parts of the world over the last 15 years.

“Nearly 2,000 of them were committed by Armenians against the Azerbaijani people,” he said. “One of the tense conflicts in the Caucasus is the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as a result of which, Armenia occupied part of Azerbaijani territory and hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were subjected to national and religious violence.”

He said that more than one million Azerbaijanis were expelled from their native lands, but UN, OSCE and other international organizations have not yet been able to solve this problem.

The meeting also adopted an appeal to President Aliyev, which says that importance attached by President of Azerbaijan to national, religious and spiritual values is appreciated not only by Azerbaijani people but also by religious leaders, representing the peoples of the Caucasus.

The appeal also praised the activity of the international conference, noting that it once again proved that the religious situation in Azerbaijan is favorable and meets the will of mutual trust between the religions. Proclamation 2016 -- a Year of multiculturalism is an indicator of elite cultural policy of independent and democratic Azerbaijan.

From time immemorial Azerbaijan, a country at crossroads of numerous cultures, religions and civilizations, was known as a bridge between Europe and Asia.

Here in Azerbaijan, the representatives of all religions and nationalities live as a family, in an atmosphere of peace, friendship, tranquility and mutual understanding. This is Azerbaijan's great heritage, a great advantage.

Today, the country is a model for many countries in the world for peaceful coexistence of members of different nations and religions.

Azerbaijan, a multinational state with about 98 percent of the Azerbaijani population being Muslim, has never had any problems and religious conflicts.