Baku. Ramiz Mikayiloglu – APA. Baku is hosting the meeting on “Intercultural dialogue: interaction between culture and religion” within the framework of the 2014 Council of Europe exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue. Making a speech at the meeting, President of the Chamber of the Congress of the Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Jean-Claude Frecon remarked the importance of religious tolerance, APA reports.
Jean-Claude Frecon said religious tolerance becomes much more urgent during various crises, and the Council of Europe comprehends its role in this issue.
“The Council of Europe aims to promote cultural heritage and inter-religious dialogue. The dialogue has to start from regions, and it’s not right to hold central authorities responsible for all of these issues. We have adopted 12 principles of inter-religious dialogue for central authorities. Despite being hundred thousands of kilometers away, we must unite efforts and prepare manuals in this area,” he said.
Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to the Council of Europe, Chair of the Rapporteur Group on Human Rights (GR-H) Drahoslav Štefánek said in his speech that Azerbaijan is located at intersection of religious cultures and holding of this event in this country is very important.
He regarded extremism and xenophobia as great threats.
“Unfortunately, such cases occur in Europe today. Therefore, it is very important to strengthen Europe-wide agreements on the level of communities. We should discuss these values. Freedom of preferring one religion over another should be provided in each member state of the European Council.”
Member of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Fr. Jean-Marie Laurent Mazas stated that Azerbaijan had made great contributions to the inter-religious dialogue. Mazas said that today they are observing the developments in northern Iraq with great concern.
“Those people are deprived of the lands of their ancestors. The international community should intervene in the resolution of this humanitarian crisis. Mechanism of the international law is no longer working, people are systematically being destroyed for their religious views. We developed our military industry over the past 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War. We are witnessing intolerance among people. The time has come, we should study the best ways and spread the principles of brotherhood.”
The event continues with speeches.
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