BAKU, October 10 (Itar-Tass) — Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev disagrees that multiculturalism is outdated.
Speaking at the international humanitarian forum, “The Twenty-First Century: Hopes and Challenges”, on Monday, Aliyev said, “It is wrong. Multiculturalism has the future not only in Azerbaijan but also in other countries.”
The forum in Baku “is a holiday of multiculturalism”, he said. “Representatives of different nationalities and different confessions gathered in this hall. It is necessary to organise such forums, which are designed to unite all peoples, nations and countries, and create conditions for humanitarian cooperation,” the Azerbaijani president said.
He cited the example of Azerbaijan, which encourages multiculturalism, and where many nations and nationalities lived in the country long ago. “We are one family. Azeris have never admitted discrimination towards any ethnic entities. We can live and live in the multicultural society,” Aliyev said.
He said Azerbaijan, which is located at the junction of culture and civilisations, facilitated the East-West dialogue. “Azerbaijan is a member of the Council of Europe and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. This helps us bring closer the two worlds,” Aliyev said.
He stressed that humanitarian cooperation was the country’s priority. “The future of our country cannot be linked only with natural resources. It is important to turn oil capital into human one and consistently carry out reforms in the fields of education, science and culture,” he said.
Aliyev said he is hopeful that the ideas and proposals put fort at the Baku international humanitarian forum would facilitate humanitarian cooperation all over the world.