Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The fourth Baku International Humanitarian Forum opened in the Azerbaijani capital on October 2.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of the two-day forum.

President Aliyev addressed the ceremony.

Welcoming the participants of the forum, the president said about 500 guests from over 60 countries are attending the event.

The President said in his opening remarks that a multi-faith, multi-ethnic society has been formed in Azerbaijan throughout the centuries, it still exists, and in the years of independence, these positive tendencies have enhanced even more.

"The forum is a significant event," President Aliyev said. "This has already become a wonderful tradition. The forum is being held for the fourth time, which testifies to the great need for such discussions. The processes taking place in the world, in some cases cause concern and demand attracting even more attention to humanitarian sphere."

Azerbaijani president expressed confidence that discussions, exchange of views, which are to be held during the forum, will serve to deepening of humanitarian cooperation.

"In Azerbaijan we pay great attention to this," the president said. "It is no coincidence that this forum is being held exactly in Azerbaijan. I can note that the forum has a unique role today in discussing and analysing the world's humanitarian problems."

The president also said the interest towards the forum is constantly growing and it has already turned into an important format on the international arena.

"We in Azerbaijan have always paid great attention to humanitarian aspects for development of ties between countries, because this is dictated by our historical past, and our culture," President Aliyev said.

He noted all peoples in Azerbaijan live in friendship and good neighbourliness, as one family.

"Azerbaijan has never had any religious, ethnic conflicts or misunderstandings, and this is a great wealth of the country, as each state's power is of course determined by a number of factors - political opportunities, economic power, as well as the atmosphere, climate and feelings of solidarity within the society," President Aliyev said.

"I think that from this point of view Azerbaijan's experience is very positive, and with our work, we make positive contribution to the processes going on in the world," he said.

President Aliyev went on to add that Azerbaijan has always paid special attention to the humanitarian cooperation, solution of humanitarian issues, but the country is facing a humanitarian catastrophe.

"Azerbaijan's territorial integrity has been violated and aggressive policy is pursued against the country," Aliyev said.

Armenia has occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory and over a million of Azerbaijani citizens have become IDPs as a result of the occupation.

"Ethnic cleansing policy was conducted against us. Khojaly genocide committed against us claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people," the president said, adding that Khojaly genocide has been officially recognized by over 10 countries.

The head of state went on noting that all influential international organizations have adopted decisions and resolutions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions demanding the unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijan's occupied territories and expressed regret that these resolutions haven't been implemented so far.

"We face great injustice, double standards. We are well aware that in some cases, resolutions of the UN Security Council are implemented within a day, while the resolutions on the most important issue for us have remained on paper for more than 20 years," President Aliyev said.

OSCE, European Parliament, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and other international organizations have adopted decisions and resolutions supporting Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

"This format and this legal framework is the only way to settle the conflict. Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is recognized all over the world, and it must be unconditionally restored," the head of state said, adding that Azerbaijani citizens expelled from their native lands as a result of Armenian occupation should return to their homes, despite that everything has been destroyed on these lands.

"OSCE's fact-finding missions have been sent to the occupied territories twice, and upon return they reported that our mosques, tombs of our ancestors, historical monuments were destroyed and museums were looted," the president said adding that it is a huge humanitarian tragedy.

President Aliyev also noted Azerbaijan has done a great work on its own to solve this humanitarian problem related to the settling and employing of refugees, adding that this work continues, since part of the refugees still live in difficult conditions.

"Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the biggest threat to the region. The speedy settlement of this conflict in accordance with the international law will bring peace and greater development to this region and create new opportunities for the regional cooperation," President Aliyev said.

Later, Chairperson of the Russian Council of the Federation Valentina Matviyenko read out a message addressed by President Vladimir Putin to the participants of the forum.

The message said the fourth Baku International Humanitarian Forum will work out new ideas and proposals aimed at building confidence, mutual understanding among peoples, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in this important humanitarian sphere.

"This is a very prestigious event, bringing together representatives from more than 70 countries and leading international organizations. Among its members are prominent politicians, figures of art and culture, as well as prominent scholars. The agenda of the current meeting includes relevant issues related to preserving and increasing our common spiritual and intellectual heritage, the development of science and education. I am sure that there would be an interesting and informative exchange of views," Putin said.

In her remarks, Matviyenko said the authority of this forum is growing every year.

"It is informally called the 'intellectual Davos'," she said. "This forum is also as important as big and significant economic international events especially in the current international conditions."

UN Development Program (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark also made a speech at the forum, noting that the Forum provides an important opportunity for exchange of ideas on a wide range of issues.

She also noted the UNDP's work with Azerbaijan is aimed at development of a number of innovative initiatives.

Touching on Azerbaijan's large reserves of valuable natural resources, Clark added "translating natural resource wealth into wealth for the country and greater human development requires deliberate public policy decisions which will achieve those ends. Azerbaijan has made significant decisions in this respect."

Clark went on to add that over the years, Azerbaijan has seen a drastic reduction in poverty, new investments in social services, the establishment of a social security system, and rising salaries.

"Continuing to lift human development will be critical for the achievement of Azerbaijan's national development strategy, Vision 2020. At UNDP we are fully committed to supporting Azerbaijan in taking this vision forward," she stressed.

In her video message Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova thanked the government of Azerbaijan for hosting the fourth Baku International Humanitarian Forum, and said conducting of the forum is a timely initiative.

"Topics of this forum - multiculturalism, the transformation of the media, issues of science and technology, innovation and sustainable development - are important for the whole world," she said.

Bokova also noted UNESCO helps strengthening the foundations for the creation of lasting peace and stability in society.

"In a rapidly changing world, all societies undergo a profound transformation," Bokova said. "We should promote freedom of expression, using the digital environment for the empowerment of individuals in construction of a free and democratic society."

ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri also delivered a speech at the forum. He said a number of international forums and conferences held in Baku have attracted the world's attention to Azerbaijan.

"A dozen of international conferences on the mission of dialogue, mutual understanding, tolerance and collaboration were held in Baku," he said. "Some of them were so successful that ISESCO is honored to be participating in organizing some of those forums and meetings."

"For such events Baku has admirably captured the attention of the world with its long traditions and deservingly established itself as an ideal platform for this human project of so great importance toward peace," he added.

Baku International Humanitarian Forum, initiated in 2010 by President Aliyev and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, is a high-profile global scientific and political platform for tackling the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century, holding dialogue, discussions and exchange of views on a wide range of issues of humanitarian cooperation.

Well-known politicians, representatives of the socio-political circles, scholars and figures of culture are attending the two-day forum. Within the framework of the forum, the participants will make tours to Azerbaijan's regions, particularly to Nakhchivan, Lankaran, Guba and Gabala on October 4-5.