Every year, Baku becomes an increasingly important platform for the implementation of global international projects aimed at promoting peace, tolerance and respect for human values.

Among such global projects is the Baku Process, initiated by the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, in 2008. The Baku process was initiated to create an effective and effective intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue. The basis for the nomination of such a global process by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, is the factor of the diversity of religious communities, ethnic groups, as well as the cultural diversity that has occurred historically in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

This concept in the face of instability and emerging new threats around the world offers countries and peoples the path of sustainable development based on the values ​​of tolerance, peacefulness, tolerance. In a society where there are no values ​​of multiculturalism, there are threats of growing intolerance on religious and ethnic grounds, denial and rejection of everything that at first glance seems alien. The principles of multiculturalism can prevent inter-religious and interethnic conflicts, counteract xenophobia and racism, thereby protecting humanity from tragedies and elevating universal values ​​as fundamental to the origins of the rule of law and highly developed states. Now, while the world is experiencing migration, interethnic crises, Azerbaijan has undertaken a high mission to promote a model of tolerance and multiculturalism,

In order to effectively promote the concept of peace and tolerance — the concept of Azerbaijani multiculturalism, the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism was created in 2014, with Revan Hasanov as its executive director.

Most recently, on July 15-17, Azerbaijan hosted the Baku International Youth Forum on "From Interfaith Dialogue to Practical Activity" as part of the Summer Camp of Multiculturalism, in which representatives of youth from almost 40 countries received practical and theoretical knowledge that will be used to promote intercultural dialogue and peaceful coexistence in different countries. Holding a summer camp of multiculturalism in different regions of Azerbaijan (Oguz, Shekinskiy, Gabalinsky) allowed participants from different countries to be convinced that multiculturalism in the territory of Azerbaijan has developed historically, and the tolerant and peaceful Azerbaijani people have always made efforts to work together different religions, peoples.

According to my observations, multiculturalism is a systematization of what has always been in the mentality and lifestyle of Azerbaijanis. It is respect for a person no matter what religion or ethnicity they belong to. For centuries, Azerbaijanis have been pleased to open the doors of their home to every guest, displaying hospitality and trust, showing a noble example to other nations. Today, Azerbaijan is fulfilling an important mission for humanity — to bring the values ​​of multiculturalism to the whole world, to pass on its successful experience to other countries and to motivate other peoples to choose the path of humanism and dialogue, rejecting aggression and hatred.

In one of his interviews, the Executive Director of Baku International Center for Multiculturalism, Revan Hasanov, emphasized that the new format of work on the summer camp of multiculturalism with the involvement of the world-famous British organization ACWAY, the Azerbaijani Youth Foundation and the B Friends Club, expanding the range of creative search for young people from different continents. “The innovative thinking style of the audience, as an important factor, is able to create the conditions for generating promising ideas and ideas. Continuity in developing new visions becomes a central element in the relationship between students and young professionals from different countries. This is the only way to create an area of ​​high energy, which will subsequently have a positive effect on strengthening the atmosphere of trust and beneficial interaction, ”said Revan Hasanov.

From this it becomes clear that the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism is expanding its range of activities and approach to the realization of important missions that are at the origin of popularizing the concept of Azerbaijani multiculturalism.

It is important to note that last year I hosted the first meetings of the Ukrainian audience — intellectuals, students, scholars, and public figures of Ukraine — with representatives of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism and representatives of organizations working closely with the Center for Multiculturalism — the chairman of Albanian-Azerbaijan-Ubinin Ubin , his deputy Rafik Danakari, head of the Bible Society of Azerbaijan Rasim Khalilov. The lectures, seminars and meetings held at the Ukrainian Foundation for Culture, Samed Vurgun Kyiv City Library, Kyiv State University named after Boris Grinchenko attracted great interest from the Ukrainian society. By the way, according to international estimates, Ukrainians are one of the most tolerant peoples of Europe, and the level of anti-Semitism in Ukraine is the lowest in Europe. That is why Ukraine can become one of the important activities of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism. After all, Ukraine, like Azerbaijan, are multicultural countries where harmonious and mutual representatives of different religions, representatives of different peoples live in harmony, and the state creates favorable conditions for intercultural dialogue.

Historically, Azerbaijanis have always been a brotherly nation for Ukrainians, and strategic partnerships between our countries are based on a strong foundation that underpins our peoples' cultural, ethno-national ties. Our peoples unite not only general principles and mutual respect at the state level, but also common spiritual values ​​— peacefulness, tolerance, hospitality.

These facts indicate that the concept of Azerbaijani multiculturalism is very important and interesting for the Ukrainian society, which has a request for information on multiculturalism in Azerbaijan, history of formation and development of Azerbaijani multiculturalism, principles of functioning of this concept.

I am convinced that popularizing and informing Ukrainians about Azerbaijani multiculturalism will only confirm previously known information about how similar our states are in their tolerance and harmonious and sustainable development, based on human values ​​and respect for human rights and international law.

Goncharuk Marina, photos provided by the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism