"From Interfaith And Inter-Civilizational Cooperation To Human Solidarity"
International Conference
(Vienna, 19 June 2019).

PRESS - RELEASE

On June 19, 2019 Baku International Center for Interfaith and Inter-Civilizational Cooperation (BCIC), KAICIID International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Geneva Center for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue, and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Austria has held at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the International Conference "From Interfaith And Inter-Civilizational Cooperation To Human Solidarity".
State, parliament, public, international organizations and NGO personalities, different scientific figures, leaders of the religious confessions, representing Austria and more than 30 countries, as well as representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Austria attended the International Conference. The Azerbaijani delegation was lead by the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims` Board, Secretary General of BCIC Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh and the Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov, and included prominent statemen, religious and scientific figures.
The International Conference was organized on the grounds of universal importance of promotion of Azerbaijan's multiculturalism model and outstanding importance of development of interreligious and inter-Civilizational dialogue and co-operation for elimination of the challenges of the modern world. Holding the International Conference in Austria, the leading European state with diversity of cultures and religions, aims to focus the international community`s attention to this important global issue, and to demonstrate a common stand of representatives of different cultures, civilizations and religions against challenges to peace and prosperity, especially, conflicts on the religious grounds.
The opening plenary session was moderated by the Executive Director of the Geneva Center for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue Mr. Idriss Jazairy. In his welcoming remarks he particularly underlined one of the greatest paradoxes of the contemporary world that major world faiths and creeds that all preach human fraternity are being perverted to justify hatred and exclusion.
The letter of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, addressed to the Vienna International Conference was read out. It was stressed in the Letter, that discussions and suggestions of the Conference will serve to promotion of interfaith dialogue, strengthen intercultural harmony, contribute to peace and mutual understanding over the World.
The UN Under-Secretary-General, the High-Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos gave his keynote speech, followed by remarks of Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Partnerships with the Middle East and Central Asia Mr. Rashid Khalikov.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims` Board, Secretary General of BCIC Sheikh-ul-Islam A. Pashazadeh stressed that the state of Azerbaijan gives great priority to the national and universal values, multicultural traditions, and cooperation between different cultures and religions. Drawing Participants` attention to the fact of destruction of historical, cultural and religious monuments in the occupied territories as a result of Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, he emphasized the necessity of peaceful settlement of the conflict on the basis of international law, UN resolutions and the efforts of the Minsk Group of OSCE.
The "The Call to Humanity" reel, where the role of Azerbaijan in improvement of inter-Civilizational and inter-religious cooperation and the multiculturalism values were reflected, was demonstrated at the Vienna Conference.
At the conclusion of the event, the participants of the International Conference adopted the Vienna Declaration as a final document of the Conference. The Document stressed that continuation of holding of such forums are of a high importance and necessity from the aspect of promotion of the humanist ideas and the multicultural lifestyle in the modern world.