International Forum “Expanding the Role of Women in Cross-Culture Dialogue” started in Baku
Two-day International Forum “Expanding the Role of Women in Cross-Culture Dialogue” started June 10 at the Gulustan Palace in Baku.
Over 300 delegates including ISESCO Director General, UNESCO goodwill ambassadors and first ladies of a number of countries are participating in the Forum that has been initiated by Heydar Aliyev Foundation and supported by the UNESCO and ISESCO.
High-ranking participants of the Forum arrived at Gulustan Palace.
Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP, sincerely welcomed ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz bin Othman Altwaijri, Mrs. Maria Kaczynski, First Lady of Poland, Mrs. Zanele Mbeki, First Lady of the South African Republic, Mrs. Ana Paula Dos Santos, First Lady of Angola, Mrs. Emine Erdogan, Turkish Prime-Minister`s spouse, Mrs. Lilita Zatler, First Lady of Latvia, Mrs. Anita Perry, First Lady of State of Texas of USA, Mrs. Svetlana Orlova, Deputy Chairperson of the Russian Federation Council, Mrs. Marta Christina Cherutti de Kobos, spouse of Vice-President of Argentina, Mrs. Sheikha Veysel, spouse of Foreign Minister of Bahrain.
President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva was photographed with each of guests.
Ceremony was held then to officially start the Forum.
Expressing delight of greeting visitors in Baku MRS MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA said the Forum is being held due to joint efforts by Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO. ‘I want to express my deep gratitude to those organizations and their leadership – Director General of UNESCO Mr Koichiro Matsuura and Director General of ISESCO Mr. Abdulaziz bin Othman Altwaijri’ M.Aliyeva said.
Introducing the high-ranking guests having come to Baku to attend the Forum Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva said over last 15 years scholars and writers, religious figures and politicians are looking for reply to a question sounded very simply: Dialog or confrontation? This problem has become the major subject to a number of international forums and conferences. I think every such meeting is of huge importance by bringing together representatives of different countries and cultures. As result of such meetings people know each other deeper, exchange views and experiences at least.
Today we should approach the dialog of cultures and civilizations from the standpoint of women, dwell on the woman vision. Where there is woman there is sincerity and love and no place for hostility, confrontation and hatred. I think, women have always supported the dialog from the very first day. Just because of this woman potential may play big role in strengthening of dialog. I hope our conference will be fruitful, various visions and proposals will be sounded during 2 days and results of our conference will give worthy contribution to strengthening of the dialog of cultures.
Declaring the Forum open Mehriban Aliyeva said Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has sent the letter of congratulations to the Conference participants.
Chief of the Presidential Administration’s Humanitarian Department Fatma Abdullahzade read out President Ilham Aliyev`s welcoming message to the Conference participants.
Then, ISESCO Director General ABDULAZIZ BIN OTHMAN ALTWAIJRI greeted President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva and participants, expressed gratitude to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for high support to realization of events on the dialog of cultures.
The ISESCO Director General recalled upon decision of UN General Assembly 2001 was declared the dialog civilizations year that put the dialog of cultures in the new phase. ‘Today’s meeting will give new contributions to universal culture and peace’ he said.
Women play very important role in development of the dialog of cultures. They are trainers of the young generation. They are the core of the family building the society. They suggest the ideal values and supreme principles to the youth.
Noting the dialog of cultures and civilizations is the job to everyone Abdulaziz bin Othman Altwaijri mentioned the role of women in this field is undeniable. For this, women must first of all be literate, get perfect education. But it does not mean action of women is limited with home works or education. Of course, women have more possibilities for action. Saying education we mean the education based on values in the dialog of cultures.
Main factor lifting the role of women in society is their active participation in the dialog of cultures. By this way they can achieve peace and mutual understanding in the world. Today, there is serious need for involvement of women in international movements in the dialog of civilizations and for getting the common objectives.
Taking the opportunity of this forum I call on everyone to work together in the dialog of cultures and towards development of understanding among nations and hereby prevent challenges by enemies of peace to racial, religious and cultural discrimination.
The Forum participants also watched the video address of Koichiro Matsuura, UNESCO Director General. Koichiro Matsuura expressed gratitude to the state of Azerbaijan and specially to First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva for the high-level forum. He said holding such a high-level event is the display of high attention Mehriban Aliyeva pays to women.
K.Matsuura stressed the Forum will stimulate development of the gender equality. Different talks, dialogs have existed historically but such dialog will lift the role of women in the globalizing world. Women play important role in formation of modernity and thought.
Gender equality is the global priority to UNESCO in 2008-2010. I hope our organization will play significant role in creation of the new mechanism in future in this direction.
The UNESCO Director General expressed confidence the Forum will lift the role of women and attention of the world public to the issue. Discussions to be held in the Forum will play important role in solution of problems women face in the world.
Assessing the dialog of cultures as very necessary issue First Lady of Poland Maria Kaczynski said traditions of tolerance historically existed in her country are continued.
Certainly, women play essential role in training of the youth in the tolerant spirit, therefore, the potential of women should widely be used in politics, economy, press, in different spheres in general.
M.Kaczynski said in some countries women are still deprived of a number of rights. Protection of women rights have special place in decisions and resolutions of different influential international organizations. I think the dialogs of cultures will promote settlement of problems in this field.
Turkish Prime-Minister’s spouse Emine Erdogan expressed gratitude to Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP, UNESCO, ISESCO and the state of Azerbaijan for holding such an influential event. Expressing honor of being in Azerbaijan she underlined the Forum will make worthy contributions to protection of cultural values. Turkish Prime-Minister’s spouse noted the role of women is growing in the processes ongoing in the world. We must unite the efforts to further increase the role of women – the moving force of the society. Taking into consideration impact of such forums on the dialog of cultures E.Erdogan said decision had been made to hold an analogical event in Turkey next year. Stressing irreplaceable services of women in development of the society she underlined the necessity to help the developing countries in this field.
Ana Paula Dos Santos, First Lady of Angola, expressed pleasure of being in Azerbaijan and attending such an essential forum dedicated to the woman problems. She said throughout the history Azerbaijan has been situated on the cultural roads linking Asia to Europe. Emphasizing contributions by Azerbaijan to the universal culture she said rich cultural heritage of Azerbaijan is the pattern to other nations.
Saying the President of Angola received education in Azerbaijan in due time Mrs. Dos Santos mentioned the high level of education in Azerbaijan. She emphasized the international forum held on the initiative of Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP, is the bright manifestation of attention Azerbaijan renders to democratic values, women rights protection and solution of existing problems. The speaker noted integration of women to the society will cause development of that society, happiness of woman is the cornerstone of development of that society, expressed confidence the Baku Forum will promote development of the dialog of cultures.
Lilita Zatler, First Lady of Latvia, said she was much glad for discussing the theme of role of women in cross-cultural dialog just in Baku. Noting she never agrees with idea of famous writer Kipling that East and West will never unite Mrs. Zatler said the present event proves her conclusion. She valued women as the important part of civilization, emphasizing necessity to lift their role in management of the society together with men.
The First Lady of Latvia underlined just women distribute knowledge and culture in the society. Noting necessity for good attitude of people of different religions, specially women the speaker said tolerance is in the substance of women, explaining her vision in the sample of her country.
She stated there are favorable conditions in Latvia for development over past 20 years and women play significant role in creation of balance in the society.
Zanele Mbeki, First Lady of the South African Republic, thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for letter of congratulations and best wishes addressed to the Forum.
Calling the capital of Azerbaijan the bridge between civilizations, the symbol of hospitality Z.Mbeki said located over the historical Silk Road Baku possesses rich traditions and expressed gratitude for hospitality.
She connected reasons for creation of differences between West and Africa with appropriation of this continent by force, expressing confidence for elimination of these differences taking into account development of the society for the better, since more real steps are being taken towards development of peace, dialog and humanism.
The First Lady of the South African Republic called the participants of the Forum to increase internal richness, continue kind behavior and successful works.
Mrs. Svetlana Orlova, Deputy Chairperson of the Russian Federation’s Federation Council, wished success to the Forum organized by Heydar Aliyev Foundation, familiarized participants with the letter of congratulations by Chairperson of the Federation Council Mironov.
Stressing importance of the Forum’s theme S.Orlova assessed it as a strong reply to evaluation of the role of women in the society. Calling women protector of the family hearth the Russian visitor said growth of international ties of women has important influence on relations of states and nations as well.
Emphasizing Azerbaijan, in particular Baku is rapidly developing lately and huge successes have been gained the Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council said the world needs harmony most of all and big duties fall in this mission on women. She noted the number of good mothers must be lifted for it.
Anita Perry, First Lady of State of Texas of USA, valued the Baku Forum as an important step in direction to increasing security, putting an end to traditions of discrimination against women.
A.Perry said women face some problems even in countries as USA where democratic values have developed, noting existing resources must be analyzed together in the fight with human violence and injustice.
Marta Christina Cherutti de Kobos, spouse of Vice-President of Argentina, said existing opportunities in field of education must be expanded to prevent discrimination against girls and women.
She noted the role of women in society, particularly in education system is huge. Women play irreplaceable role in society in the intellectual level. One of most necessary issues is assurance of girls with gratis education.
Addressing the Forum Professor of US John Hopkins University Francis Fukuyama said she was in Baku for the first time 20 years ago and saw big changes this time.
Noting the role of women is growing in the society where global tendencies develop the Professor underlined differences exist in different countries in approach to women.
She mentioned the status of women changes and these differences are removed as result of growing economic development in the modernizing world.
F.Fukuyama said the status of women in East depends on that of men, changes happen in position of women as position of men in society changes, noted women giving birth to son have high status in East, and change in the status of women in West happened after the catholic church gave them the right of property.
Stating economic and technologic development of modern society influences women too the Professor said the intellectual strength prevails over the physical strength. Noting 60% of workforce in USA is consisted of women she said this figure reaches already 50% across the world. F.Fukuyama said special importance must be attached to development of cultural factors to increase the role of women in the society.
After the opening session of the Forum was over, participants were taken photo.
After the break, the International Forum was continued in sessions.
The session themed “Conflict or Unity of Human Civilization?” was presided by Walter Schwimmer, former secretary general of CE, Chairman of International Coordination Committee of “Dialog of Civilizations” World Public Forum.
Highly valuing realization of the Baku Forum W.Schwimmer said the fact that Azerbaijan hosts the Forum indicates to the importance it gives to protection of rights and freedoms, woman rights as well. In her opening address Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva stated necessary issues. These issues disturb not only you but Europe and world too. We will be trying to pay special attention to it in our future action and achieve solution of issues of women.
First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the Forum.
