Baku declaration of Culture Ministers of the CE member-states adopted - UPDATED

04.12.08

09:40

Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertogrul Gunay noted that inviting Armenia to the conference of the Culture Ministers of the CE member-states on intercultural dialogue in Baku Azerbaijan has proved once again that it is ready for peace and dialogue with everyone.

"Inviting Armenia Azerbaijan has showed once again that it is ready for a meeting and a dialogue with everyone on the way to peace", he told reporters Wednesday adding that it would be excessive to comment on the rejection of the Armenian side in this issue.

He also added that mutual respect of cultures is the most important way to peace, "as peace can be ensured only through a dialogue".

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03.12.08

18:00

CE will support execution of the Baku process of assistance to intercultural dialogue for continuation of cooperation, said Gabriella Batani Dragoni, coordinator of the organization on issues of intercultural dialogue, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan,

"This document is important from not only the political point of view. It is a basis of further cooperation. We are leaving Azerbaijan not with empty lands, but with a ready signed declaration", she told a briefing Wednesday by results of the conference of Culture Ministers of the CE member-states in Baku.

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17:05

Azerbaijan will cooperate with Czechia in the sphere of culture. APA reports that Azerbaijan Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev and Deputy Culture Minister of Czechia Frantisek Mikes, who is visiting Baku, made a decision at the meeting to cooperate in the field of culture. Frantisek Mikes said various cultural programs should be organized in Azerbaijan.

"This cooperation should cover various spheres of culture. We can cooperate in the field of art, museum and library,” he said.

Deputy Culture Minister of Czechia said special program would be prepared and agreement would be signed concerning the cooperation.

Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev underlined the importance of using Czechia’s experience in various spheres of culture.

Abulfas Garayev said the cooperation might also cover protection of monuments.

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16:51

"Baku Declaration promotes the development of intercultural dialogue between the countries”, said Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Abulfas Garayev at the press conference on Wednesday. The Minister noted that the declaration’s principles and forms of activity were important to be carried out. “It is important that these principles will not remain on paper and turn into realities”. Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Director General of Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport emphasized the importance of holding the intercultural dialogue conference in Baku. “Our goal to participate in the Conference is to show Azerbaijan’s role in the intercultural dialogue and to exchange opinions on the different issues. The Baku Declaration adopted today is not an ordinary document, but it is a working plan for the next years”. Representatives of 48 countries, including 36 European countries and 12 international organizations joined the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Culture on the “Intercultural dialogues as a basis for peace and sustainable development in Europe and its neighboring regions”.

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16:02

"It is very nice to come to Azerbaijan, the country with the ancient culture and to know all aspects of its culture. I have very good impression on Baku", said Minister of Culture of Jordan Ninsi Bakir, who attends the Council of Europe Conference of the Ministers responsible for Culture in Baku, APA reports. The Minister noted that Azerbaijan and Jordan expected to sign an agreement for the financial cooperation. Ninsi Bakir reminded that Azerbaijan and Jordan recently signed an agreement in the field of culture and said the agreement considered programs on the development of painting art, theater, museum and libraries between the two countries.

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13:20

Azerbaijan and Qatar will cooperate in the field of culture, Culture Minister of Qatar Hamad Aziz Al Kawari, who is attending the Council of Europe Conference of the Ministers responsible for Culture in Baku, told journalists, APA reports. The minister said that culture week of Qatar would be held in Azerbaijan in 2009.

“Baku has been announced Capital of Islamic Culture in 2009. This event will be held within the framework of the program. We would like cultural cooperation to be extended between the two countries,” he said.

Hamad Aziz Al Kawari said that he had met with Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev. Cultural cooperation between the two countries was discussed during the meeting.

“I think that there is much work to be done in the field of culture with Azerbaijan,” he said.

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12:50

The international conference "Intercultural dialogue as a basis of peace and sustainable development in Europe and in neighbor regions" is held in the capital of Azerbaijan on December 2-3

The Culture Ministers of the CE member-states speak for the stable process of intercultural dialogue as a defining factor of international cooperation for the purpose of promotion of human rights, democracy and supremacy of law, says the Baku declaration, adopted by results of the conference, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

The Ministers agreed to strengthen the process of cooperation, launched in Baku.

The conference participants agreed to promote development of creative activity, which is an important factor of sustainable economic, social and personal development.

Moreover, the Ministers confirm the important role of policy in the cultural sphere on the national, regional and local levels.

"We are for intercultural dialogue, including its interreligious dimension. We are ready to assist to intercultural dialogue as an effective practice by way of exchange of political views", says the declaration.

The conference was attendde by 42 CE member-states and ten neighbor states. The main aim of the conference is assistance to intercultural dialogye, analysis of opportunities for transnational cooperation with the use of the unique potential of culture, art and heritage.

/APA/