2024-05-02 23:55:23
Author: Elvin Sakhavatoglu
Currently, the gap between peoples, religions and cultures existing in the world is deepening. Especially against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas war, growing Islamophobia in Europe, the influx of migrants, and conflicts over natural resources, this gap has deepened.
Today, core states from different civilizations in the world are waging war against each other through proxy powers, religious organizations and ethnic groups.
For example, the peoples living in any state located in the Middle East are hostile towards each other. The big powers hiding behind those nations are the ones who benefit the most from this hatred.
We can also call it a kind of clash of civilizations and cultures. Because the opposing nations and the powers supporting the nations belong to different civilizations and cultures.
In the last 200 years, the plan to deepen the cultural, religious and ethnic differences and make the peoples hostile to each other in the area has led to more tragic results.
For example, in the first years of Azerbaijan’s independence, they tried to implement this plan in our country. At that time, various ethnic groups living in Azerbaijan were inclined to separatism under the influence of foreign powers. Among those ethnic groups, the most aggressive were the Armenians living in Karabakh.
In a short period of time, solidarity with other peoples except Armenians was achieved. As a result of the efforts of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan remained intact and the plan of foreign powers did not come true.
After coming to power, President Ilham Aliyev managed to preserve the most important values of the multicultural and ethnically diverse Azerbaijani society for centuries – values such as tolerance, mutual respect, friendship and partnership.
Currently, all peoples live in friendly conditions in Azerbaijan.
For this reason, Azerbaijan can take the initiative to hold prestigious events such as the World Intercultural Dialogue Forum.
On May 1, the opening ceremony of the VI World Intercultural Dialogue Forum on “Dialogue for Peace and Global Security” was held at the Baku Congress Center.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Ilham Aliyev spoke about how representatives of different ethnic groups and religions live as a family in Azerbaijan.
Quote: “Representatives of different ethnic groups and religions live as one family in Azerbaijan. They are valuable citizens of Azerbaijan, true patriots of our state and statehood. We must strengthen these positive trends, cultural dialogue and cultural diversity. All this is a blessing from centuries.”
The head of state noted that Azerbaijan’s multicultural and ethnically diverse society has preserved important values - tolerance, mutual respect, friendship and partnership – for centuries.
Quote: “Azerbaijan has been a place where cultures meet for centuries. Our geographical position, our location between the East and the West, made this trend possible.”
As it can be seen, Azerbaijan, which has suffered from occupation for many years and attempted ethnic separatism, has managed to build a state model that can be an example to the world. There are many things that peoples and states looking for peace and solidarity can learn from Azerbaijan against the backdrop of ethnic conflicts that are currently taking place in the world. Events such as the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue are a useful platform for learning this experience.