On April 7th the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue started at the Gulustan palace here.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO goodwill ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony.
President Ilham Aliyev started his opening remarks at an opening session entitled "Towards a World without Dividing Lines" by underlining the importance of the forum.
The Head of State expressed hope the event would bring positive results and open up new opportunities for development of intercultural dialogue.
"Existence of high-level ethnic and religious tolerance in Azerbaijan is a fact. It is a source of strength to us," the Head of State said.
President Aliyev expressed hope the world forum on intercultural dialogue would be regular and produce concrete results.
On the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Azerbaijani leader pointed out Armenia continues to occupy Azerbaijani lands despite resolutions of international organizations.
He hoped peace talks would result in restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and returning of displaced Azerbaijani population to their homes.
The Head of State underlined Azerbaijan`s economy relies on its own resources. According to him, the country chose the path of political development. He noted the modern secular state based on strong traditions had been built in Azerbaijan.
President Ilham Aliyev wished every success to the forum.
Also speaking at the forum were PACE President Mevlut Cavusoglu, ISESCO director general Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, UNESCO assistant director general for strategic planning Hans D`Ovril, Executive director of the secretariat of UN Alliance of Civilizations Marc Scheuer, Chief of Crans Montana Forum Jean-Paul Carteron.
The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is an initiative of the Government of Azerbaijan supported by UNESCO, UN Alliance of Civilizations, Council of Europe, North-South Centre of the Council of Europe and İSESCO
The forum will address the conceptual, governance, policy and practical aspects of the challenge of intercultural dialogue. It will tackle the barriers to dialogue and face concretely how dialogue can best be pursued in diverse contexts. It will provide an opportunity for the sharing of good practice and the launch of new initiatives.
The forum will attract the participation of global public figures, heads of international organizations, heads of state or governments, ministers of culture and cultural ambassadors, parliamentarians and diplomats, mayors and other local-authority figures, representatives of non-governmental organizations and enterprises, media representatives and journalists, cultural experts and practitioners, prominent intellectuals and activists. This synergy between political leaders and officials, experts and practitioners will be encouraged by scope for informal networking around the event. Euronews as a media partner will promote the forum through its broadcasting networks.

AzerTAc