Khachmaz, 19 February

I have come from Japan to join the project. It is my first visit to Azerbaijan. We have had a tour of some sights in Guba, Gusar and Khachmaz that are considered the northern region of your country, familiarized ourselves with religious temples, historical sites, indigenous people. In the process of this familiarization I witnessed that Azerbaijan is a tolerant country where the great majority of the population are Muslims who belong to either Shiite or Sunni sect. Unlike the other places, the Muslims of diverse sects as well as the representatives of different religions co-exist peacefully in Azerbaijan.

These words have been uttered by Takahiro Vatanabe, a Japanese participant of the VIII International Winter School of Multiculturalism “The Literary-artistic Sources of Azerbaijani Multiculturalism”.

The Japanese student stated that Azerbaijan is among the rare counties where the representatives of different nations and religions have managed to co-exist under friendly and fraternal conditions.

We listened to the experts’ lectures on religious, ethnic diversity. I think this project is of great importance from the perspective of the advocacy of the achievements of your country in multiculturalism. These values should be advocated in the entire world,” stated Takahiro Vatanabe.