On 6 March the Book “The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the Azerbaijani Model of Multiculturalism” was presented to the public representatives of the districts of the northern region.

The presentation was preceded by the visit to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s monument erected in the centre of the city of Guba, and the visitors laid bouquets of flowers in front of the monument.

Speaking at the event held in Heydar Aliyev Centre the Head of the Department of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Yadigar Mammadli stated that the book published in Azerbaijani, Russian and English embraces valuable thoughts uttered by President Ilham Aliyev in his interviews and speeches since 2003 on the Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism. The publication deals with Azerbaijan’s projects carried out by the initiative and under the leadership of the head of our state to develop multiculturalism including intercultural and interreligious dialogue, as well as the appropriate achievements obtained both within the country and on an international scale.

The ideational author of the book is the leader of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev, its consultant is the Assistant of the Azerbaijani President on socio-political issues, PhD in History, Professor Ali Hasanov, and its compilers are the Head of the Department of Intercultural Relations, Multiculturalism and Religious Issues of the Presidential Administration, PhD in Philosophy, Professor Etibar Najafov, the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism, Academician Kamal Abdulla and the editor-in-chief of AZERTAJ, Doctor of Philosophy in Political Sciences Javid Badalov and the Head of the Department at Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Sarkhanbey Khudiyev.

Yadigar Mammadli stated that the state policy pursued in Azerbaijan in connection with the national and religious minorities has always been highly appreciated by the appropriate international organizations. The policy pursued in our country and its experience in this field are cited as an example for other countries too. Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism has been established by the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev who took into consideration the necessity of wider presentation of Azerbaijan, where multiculturalism has turned into a lifestyle, to the world as an example of tolerance as well as the importance of the analysis and promotion of the philosophical, social, political and other aspects pertinent to various multicultural models in different countries in Azerbaijani realities.

In his speech the Director of the Institute of Folklore of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Academician Mukhtar Imanov pointed out that the formation, development of multiculturalism, tolerance and religious endurance and their rise to the level of a state policy in our country originate from the ancient statehood history and development of national-cultural values. He mentioned that the National Leader Heydar Aliyev is the founder of the political multiculturalism in our country which is a place where various ethno-cultural groups and religious confessions have historically co-existed. Following his second return to power by the invitation of the people, the National Leader not only rescued Azerbaijan from the civil war, but also united all the national minorities existing in our country around the single ideology of Azerbaijanianism. This policy is being continued successfully by President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan’s possession and promotion of the values of multiculturalism are highly appreciated by the leading international organizations and world community.

The Senior Consultant of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Tofig Abbasov emphasized the presentation of multiculturalism in the book as one of the mainstreams of the policy implemented in Azerbaijan. He noted that the publication reflects some theoretical issues of multiculturalism, the peculiarities of the Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism. The book contains the important ideas about the great experience of the Azerbaijani state in multiculturalism which is important for other countries, especially the Western countries facing serious problems in the implementation of the policy of multiculturalism at present.

T.Abbasov, who gave information about the actions taken by Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism in the presentation of Azerbaijan to the world as the centre of multiculturalism and the study and promotion of the existing multicultural models, said that the book “The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the Azerbaijani Model of Multiculturalism” will further have scientific discussions abroad, along with our own country.

The participants in the public discussions said that as a whole, the views of the head of our state, which are included in the book, constitute a complete idea about Azerbaijani multiculturalism.

It should be noted that the citations included in the book have been taken from the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev’s speeches, presentations and interviews disseminated by AZERTAJ.

Запись The Book “The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the Azerbaijani Model of Multiculturalism” at Public Discussion in Guba впервые появилась Baku International Multiculturalism Centre.