Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva participated in a conference on the theme of "Perspectives of the European Multiculturalism: Azerbaijan’s Interfaith Dialogue and Religious Tolerance Model"

A conference on the theme of “Perspectives of the European Multiculturalism: Azerbaijan’s Interfaith Dialogue and Religious Tolerance Model” was held at the Great Britain’s Parliament following the initiative of Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and with organizational support from operating in this country “England-Azerbaijan” Society and the organization “Odlar Yurdu”, November 8.

Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the conference.

Held with support from the State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Works with Religious Agencies (SCWRA) and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the Great Britain, primary objective of the conference was to present the model of religion-state relations, religious tolerance, interfaith cooperation and mutual respect existing in Azerbaijan to political and academic elite of Britain.   

The conference aroused great interest in the Great Britain’s political circles and religious societies, as well as mass media. Influential members of the House of Lords of the Great Britain, as well as MPs from both the ruling Conservatives and opposition Labourers parties, representatives of the Government, diplomatic corps in London, activists of Britain’s Anglican, Jewish and Muslim societies attended the event.

Opening the conference, chairman of the England-Azerbaijan Association Lord Peter Fraser welcomed the participants and guests, and talked of the significance of the subject to be discussed at the conference. Highly assessing the initiative on promotion of Azerbaijan’s tolerance model in Europe by Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, who has been doing significant works in the sphere of intercultural dialogue at international level from UN platforms “Alliance of Civilizations” and Islamic Conference Youth Forum, the speaker noted that the conference was a successful start for future activity in this direction.

Chairman of the “Land of Fire” organization of Britain, co-organiser of the event, Ilham Naghiyev underlined that the achievements made in Azerbaijan in the sphere of religious tolerance could be a model for Europe. Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Great Britain Fakhraddin Gourbanov emphasized that the subject discussed at the conference could play a significant role in exchange of experience between Azerbaijan and other countries of Europe.

Underlining that the London conference was an event ever held outside Azerbaijan at such influential level on the theme of tolerance, chairman of SCWRA Elshad Iskandarov noted that another specific feature of the conference was discussion of our country’s experience in the sphere of interfaith dialogue in the contest of discussion of multiculturalism in Europe and that discussion of applying just Azerbaijani model in Europe was of special significance.     

Chief coordinator of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for intercultural dialogue, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva addressed the conference.

Greeting the participants of the conference, Leyla Aliyeva underlined the significance of the event from the standpoint of multiculturalism issue in a modern Europe. The Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation touched upon the theoretical bases of the issue of tolerance and interfaith dialogue, and talked in detail of scientific attitudes existing in this sphere. Leyla Aliyeva underlined that this issue has turned into a universal issue and Azerbaijan’s experience was a successful model for studying and finding the ways of its solution. Then the speaker informed of deep roots, history of religious tolerance in Azerbaijan and current condition in this sphere.

Delivering a speech at the first plenary session of the conference, Doctor of History Farida Mammadova, Doctor of Science Moshe Becker and founder of the Religious Studies Centre Elchin Asgarov made speeches on the history of Islam, Judaism and Christianity in Azerbaijan. Detailed information was provided also about the religious and cultural heritage of the Caucasian Albania. They noted that since old times representatives of various nations, religions and cultures have lived in Azerbaijan, contributed to formation of Azerbaijan’s unique culture and that multiculturalism was a part of Azerbaijan’s national identity.

At the plenary session of the conference, representatives of our country’s Muslim, Jewish and Christian societies made speeches. Presenting their reports at the plenary session, teacher of the Theological Faculty of Baku State University, Doctor of Philosophy Agil Shirinov, Secretary of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Baku and Azerbaijan Diocese  Mifodi, member of the Baku community of the European Jews Eugenie Brenneysen, head of “Hayat Sozu” (Word of Life) Protestant Community Rasim Khalilov and chairman of the Alban- Udin Christian Community Robert Mobili noted in their speeches that excellent conditions have been created in Azerbaijan in the sphere of relations between the state and religion, and underlined that issues like free activity of religious communities are shown special attention and care. In this part of the event, activities of various religious communities in Azerbaijan, their mutual cooperation  and relations with the state were discussed.

Providing a short presentation of the historical Albanian Church, the first Christian community of Caucasus, Robert Mobili noted that, as a result of historical injustice, this church, which had been a part of the people of Azerbaijan, had been liquidated and its heritage destroyed by Armenian nationalism. The speaker said there were currently 67 religious temples relating to the heritage of the Albanian Church on the Azerbaijani lands being under Armenian occupation, and underlined that the headed by him community hoped for a world society’s support to their activity aimed at restoration of the historical Albanian Church.

Emphasizing the significance of the Azerbaijani model of interfaith dialogue for Europe, speakers and foreign participants put forward an idea of creating an interfaith dialogue and   tolerance centre in our country in order to promote these relations at an international level. 

At the end of the conference, speakers answered questions.

In the evening of the same day, guests of the conference visited a photo-exhibition entitled “Azerbaijan -  a place of moral traditions and tolerance” organized at London’s “Baku” Cultural Centre with support from SCWRC.