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6th Conference of OIC Culture Ministers takes place in Baku

13 October 2009 10:12 (UTC +04:00)

The conference began with the reading of the Koran ayats. Culture Ministers of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Iraq, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Algeria, Bangladesh, Gabon, Cameroon, Chad, Arab Republic of Yemen, Tatarstan, Bashkiria, Tuva Republic, Khakasia, head of Iran Islamic Culture and Communications Organization, member of Omani royal family, culture minister, Director Generals of ISESCO, IRCICA, Council of Europe and TURKSOY, representatives of culture ministries of Austria, Vatican, Georgia, heads of a number of universities and academies, representatives of a number of international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan, representatives of Azerbaijani government are attending the conference. 25 ministers, 11 deputy ministers from over 45 states, representatives of 18 international organizations are attending the event. The conference will last till October 15. Chairman of Caucasian Muslims Office, Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev, Director of Culture and Cultural and National Heritage at the Council of Europe Robert Palmer, ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri and others are participating in the conference.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevâ€™s letter of congratulation was read at the 6th Conference of OIC Culture Ministers. APA reports that first Deputy Prime Minister Elchin Efendiyev read the presidentâ€™s letter. The letter writes:
â€œDeclaration of Baku as the capital of Islamic Culture for 2009 is a high assessment given to the rich history and culture of our country. The events held within a day made contributions to the development of our cultural relations and once more drew attention to Azerbaijanâ€™s position in the formation of great Islamic culture. We regard the tolerance existing in the republic as our great historical achievement, attention is paid to the establishment of constructive dialogue among various religions and cultures.â€

The letter writes that Azerbaijan is implementing a number of international projects for the protection of its modern, historical-cultural heritage. All Islamic monuments, including mosques, temples in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan were destroyed as a result of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict for more than 20 years. Our country always welcomed the support of member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to our fair case during the aggression we faced. I believe the details of topical issues of the Islamic culture will be discussed at the conference and it will determine new ways of development of cultural cooperation between our countries and peoplesâ€.

After the reading out of the Presidentâ€™s letter of congratulation, the ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri addressed the conference. He highly appreciated the conference organized in Baku and said he supported soonest solution to the conflicts between the world countries.

The ministers of culture of the OIC countries passed decision in their 5th conference in Tripoli, Libya on November 21-23, 2007 to declare Baku as Islamic Culture Capital â€“ 2009 and to hold 6th meetings of the ministers of culture in Baku in 2009. More than 100 national and international events were included in the Baku â€“ Islamic Culture Capital 2009 program. The opening and final ceremonies of the culture year, 6th conference of the OIC ministers of culture, meeting of the ministers of culture of the Turkic-speaking countries, International Mugham Festival, the days of culture of Morocco, Qatar and Jordan in Azerbaijan, East-West International Film Festival, 2nd conference of the national library directors of the member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization, ISESCO International Tourism Film Festival, East-West International Dance Festival, First International Culinary Festival of the Islamic countries, First International Book Fair in Baku and other events were in the program.

A round table on the cross-culture dialogue was organized on the first day of the conference. The idea of round table was put forward at the conference of the ministers of culture of the European countries on December 2-3, 2008 in Baku and is implemented within the framework of Baku Process of Cross-Culture Dialogue founded in that conference. The advising council held its 9th meeting in Baku on October 9-10, 2009 on the implementation of Cultural Strategy of the Islamic World and discussed the text of documents to be adopted at the conference. TURKSOY Permanent Council of the Ministers of Culture will also hold its 26th meeting in Baku on October 16-17, 2009. The ministers and representatives of the number of international organizations will attend the meeting.