On 12 May the Acting Executive Director of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Ravan Hasanov met with the delegation headed by the Romanian State Secretary on Religious Issues Viktor Opaski, who is on a visit to our country.

At the meeting Ravan Hasanov gave broad information on the activities of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism, the projects implemented by it, and dealt thoroughly with the religious situation and the relations between the state and religion in Azerbaijan, the state care for religion, the state support and care for the ethnic and religious communities, President Ilham Aliyev’s successful realization of this policy founded by the National Leader Heydar ALiyev. It was mentioned that in our country different confessions are functioning independently and in mutual understanding, the state allocates material resources both to the Muslim and non-Muslim religious communities. It was stressed that Azerbaijan is one of the countries to be cited in the world as an example for tolerance and maintenance of multicultural, national-spiritual values and development. As its manifestation, it was emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev declared 2016 “The Year of Multiculturalism” and the last year “The Year of Islamic Solidarity”.

At the meeting it was also stated that in Azerbaijan there is a centre for inter-civilizational dialogue and through this Centre our country has hosted many international forums, including the international conferences in the current year.

Speaking of the relations between the state and religion in his country, Viktor Opaski stated that in Romania the state gives salaries to the religious leaders and religious communities, and the related legislation enables to provide the freedom for faith of the followers of all religious confessions. V.Opaski expressed his pleasure from his subsequent visit to our country. The Romanian guest said that during each trip to Azerbaijan he witnesses development as well as more beautiful Baku. V.Opalski, who focused the attention to the importance of the meeting in the exchange of opinions in the relevant sphere between the two countries, and the urgency of studying Azerbaijan’s present experience in this sphere, pointed out the active work related to such issues as cultural diversity, tolerance and multiculturalism in Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the meeting, the Supreme Mufti of Romania’s Muslim Community Yusuf Murad gave information about the activities of the Muslim community, the work done by it in his country. He mentioned his participation in a number of international conferences organized by the Centre of Multiculturalism in the frames of “The Year of Islamic Solidarity” last year.

In the end the guests were given the book and brochures published by Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism.

The meeting was also attended by Romania’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Dan Ianku.

Запись The Delegation Headed by the Romanian State Secretary on Religious Issues Viktor Opaski at the Centre of Multiculturalism впервые появилась Baku International Multiculturalism Centre.