Azerbaijan`s ambassador to US Elin Suleymanov has delivered a report at the annual conference on cultural diplomacy in the US.
The conference co-organized by the Center for Transatlantic Relations under the Johns Hopkins University and Institute for Cultural Diplomacy has seen speeches by the active and former officials operating in US and other countries’ ambassadors accredited in Washington, representatives of the academic and social circles.
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, US State Department Tara D. Sonenshine has delivered a report at the opening ceremony.
Elin Suleymanov addressed the annual conference on “Using the 'soft power' and cultural diplomacy in the fight against extremism and other forms of radicalism.”
Touching upon the essential features of intercultural dialogue in the field of protection of peace and tranquillity, as well as addressing the various glimpses of extremism, the diplomat briefed the participants on the country`s efforts on the promotion and implementation of the dialogue.
He also said that Azerbaijan due to the successes achieved in various spheres expanded its contribution to the promotion of intercultural dialogue.
The diplomat highlighted the World Intercultural Dialogue held under patronage of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, adding the second such forum is expected to run in Baku on May 29 to June 1, 2013.
The ambassador also touched upon the progress achieved on promotion of the national culture of Azerbaijan and praised the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s services under the leadership of first lady Mehriban Aliyeva.
History has shown that the use of hard power alone is not sufficient to sustainably respond to and to reduce threats to national security; as many of the global challenges facing states today require common solutions, which arise additionally out of cooperation rather than coercion. The goal of the ICD Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy in the USA, therefore, is to instil new momentum into the debate over the role of Cultural Diplomacy in a nation state’s Foreign Policy decisions, and discuss the potential for intercultural dialogue and soft power to increasingly be used in the future.
The ICD Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy in the USA provided an opportunity to examine and analyze the increasing importance of soft power tools and cultural diplomacy practices. The conference offered ideas as to how the United States, as well as the rest of the world, can use smart power strategies to effectively implement Foreign Policy tactics in confronting global risks and establishing the framework for global peace and prosperity.
The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy encourages academic research and analysis of issues related to the goals of the Conference.

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