WELCOME MESSAGES ABULFAS GARAYEV MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN, CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE OF THE 7TH UNAOC GLOBAL FORUM Ladies and Gentlemen, We welcome you in Azerbaijan on the occasion this regard Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the of the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Republic of Azerbaijan has launched the Baku Alliance of Civilization. It is our pleasure to host Process in 2008 for the purpose of creating guests from all over the world for responding to a collaboration platform between countries, challenges on how to build better corporation, nations, communities and civilizations. In the better understanding, peace and peaceful framework of the Baku Process Azerbaijan co-existence of different nations, civilizations, hosted World Forum on Intercultural Dialogues religions and people. It is the reality that the in 2011, 2013, 2015 in partnership with UN humanity needs to be more educated about Alliance of Civilizations, UNESCO, UNWTO, what builds better understanding in the world. Council of Europe and ISESCO. In this context Azerbaijan is an example of the country which is very much committed to the I am sure that as a world’s top intercultural and promotion of intercultural dialogue both at inter-civilizational event, the 7th Global Forum home and all around the world and has already of United Nations Alliance of Civilizations proved by tangible actions its intention to play under the motto of “Living Together In Inclusive an active role in building bridges and trust among Societies” A Challenge and A Goal” will play a civilizations and cultures.. Azerbaijan is a special key role for finding solutions to the problems, and unique place where different cultures and such as terrorism, hatred, intolerance etc, the civilizations meet at a crossroad between the factors that damage the idea of societies living East and West, North and South. peacefully together regardless of their individual beliefs, cultures, traditions and customs. Based on these traditions we have built a deep cooperation with UN Alliance of Once again I welcome you to Baku, and the Civilizations and other international institutions 7th Global Forum of United Nations Alliance for promoting values of acceptance and respect of Civilizations. for different cultures, traditions and beliefs. In 2 H.E. NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER UN HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you all to our 7th Global Forum in the full respect of human rights. By addressing the beautiful city of Baku. Our Forum’s theme the conditions conducive to the multiple routes “Living Together in Inclusive Societies: A to violent extremism including exclusion and Challenge and A Goal” could not better describe marginalization, the Plan of Action engages Azerbaijan, our host. Visibly and historically actors across sectors over the long term. The the East and West have met and collaborated plan also incorporates the “One UN approach”. in this country for centuries. This reflects a key objective for UNAOC: to build mutual respect All of the above make up the DNA of UNAOC and collaboration among peoples of different as well as the rationale behind bringing you all background and identities, highlighting the will together for our 7th Global Forum: in our joint of the world’s majority to embrace diversity and universal search for peace and stability, it is and to create inclusive, peaceful and thriving essential that we engage, empower, and connect communities. across all sectors of society and around the globe. To do so we need to understand and Both the overarching theme of this Forum as trust each other. We can only reach that end well as the sub-themes in the breakout sessions through peaceful dialogue. remain at the core of the international agenda: In January, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Dialogue helps us realize that the so called released his Plan of Action to Prevent Violent “other” can be our source of inspiration, our Extremism. The approach emphasizes Pillars partner, friend, and supporter in our joint I and IV of the Global Counter Terrorism venture towards living together in inclusive, Strategy (A/RES/60/288): “tackling conditions peaceful, and just societies. conducive to terrorism,” and “ensuring respect for human rights for all and the rule of law Providing the foundation for such societies is while countering terrorism.” This implies good an essential component of the 2030 Agenda governance to foster inclusive societies based on for Sustainable Development, and here in 3 particular of Sustainable Development Goal In this spirit, here in Baku and with the 16. We are facing one of the most opportune participation of youth, political, religious, and times to act towards our shared objectives. In business leaders, researchers, media, and a world in which wars and regional instabilities members of civil society, we want to deepen create a humanitarian crisis of almost unrivalled our dialogue, share our perspectives and create dimension and cause millions of people to an understanding of what constitutes inclusive migrate to distant places, we can no longer societies. afford to disregard the fact that conflicts as well as their resolution only happen in our diverse I call on us all to work hard yet enjoy this collectivity. unique three-day opportunity to find common ground in our humanity and to define practical To speak with one of my most favorite quotes and effective solutions and partnerships for by the grand Mahatma Gandhi: “Civilization is implementing societies that are stable, inclusive, the encouragement of differences.” and creative enough to embrace all of us in our differences. PALACE OF SHAKI KHANS 4 UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS ABOUT UNAOC religious identities, and highlighting the will of United Nations Alliance of Civilizations the world’s majority to reject extremism and (UNAOC) was established in 2005, at the embrace diversity. UNAOC seeks to operate political initiative of Mr. Kofi Annan, former in situations where it can contribute to broader United Nations Secretary General, and co- efforts to ameliorate identity-based crises sponsored by the governments of Spain and and promote culturally sensitive development Turkey. A High-Level Group of experts was policies. formed to explore the roots of polarization between societies and cultures today, and to MISSION recommend a practical programme of action UNAOC projects are fashioned around four to address the issue, which formed the basis for pillars: Education, Youth, Migration, and Media, the implementation plan of UNAOC. which all play a critical role in reducing cross- In 2013, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser assumed cultural tensions and in building bridges between the position of UN High Representative for the communities. Alliance of Civilizations, succeeding President Jorge Sampaio. UNAOC pursues its objectives through a variety The Alliance maintains a global network of of activities: partners including states, international and regional organizations, civil society groups, • Contact and dialogues between stake- foundations, and the private sector to improve holders (governmental, intergovernmental, cross-cultural relations between diverse nations and non-governmental) and communities. • Development of targeted projects • Advocacy by the High Representative and VISION UNAOC staff Guided by the principles of the UN Charter, • Interventions to defuse religious and the report of the High-Level Group, and cultural tensions by mobilizing third parties the priorities of the UN Secretary-General, that can act as forces of moderation and UNAOC works towards a more peaceful and understanding such as religious leaders, socially inclusive world, by building mutual grassroots organizations, youth and women respect among people of different cultural and leaders. 5 AZERBAIJAN: A BRIDGE BETWEEN CIVILIZATIONS Situated at the cross-roads of cultures and history, Baku is not only a city with a large civilizations, Azerbaijan represents a juncture industrial complex, but it’s also a city with a between East and West and between North and rich cultural and scientific life and a multicultural South. Through its location, history, traditions city with broadcasts and newspapers published and its strong presence in the international in various languages. Hosting the first ever arena, Azerbaijan has gained the reputation of European Games in 2015, Azerbaijan will being a bridge between civilizations and a unique conduct the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017. place for intercultural dialogue. Azerbaijan has a tradition of welcoming guests Azerbaijan’s historical development as an from all over the world to engage them in example of a Muslim-majority democratic and dialogue for better understanding and peaceful secular republic, its geographical position, and cooperation. Since 2011 Azerbaijan has hosted its multi-ethnic population created favourable the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, conditions for the spread of different religions in partnership with UNAOC, UNESCO, UN and beliefs around the country in different World Tourism Organization, Council of periods of time. Azerbaijan’s experience, Europe and ISESCO. Through this initiative despite challenges, is an example of a country known as the “Baku process”, Azerbaijan moving forward to substantive progress through acknowledges the power of intercultural inclusion. dialogue and demonstrates that such meetings bring all people closer and create the conditions