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Baku hosts International Conference â€œMinorities in Europe: The South Tyrol model and its relevance for the Caucasusâ€ - PHOTOSESSION

Baku hosts International Conference â€œMinorities in Europe: The South Tyrol model and its relevance for the Caucasusâ€ - <font color=red>PHOTOSESSION</font>

20 June 2012 12:39 (UTC +04:00)

In the opening ceremony, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Farhad Mammadov said that the aim of the conference is to study different models of autonomy in the world and implementation of some elements of these models in the settlement of the conflicts in Caucasus. He said that the determination of the status of Nagorno Karabakh is a long-term process, which can not be finalized in one stage. â€œThe President of Azerbaijan stressed many times that the conflict must be solved phase-by-phase. It is necessary to liberate the occupied territories in the first phase and then to return Azerbaijani population to Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding territories. Then it would be possible to speak about the determination of the status of Nagorno Karabakh in the second phase.â€

Mammadov noted that SAM is realizing a series of projects on studying mechanisms of the settlement of ethno-territorial conflicts over the world and peaceful co-existence in post-conflict phase. â€œIn the end of 2011, SAM representatives visited the region of South Tyrol in Italy and started the project on studying this precedent. Today holding the international conference â€œMinorities in Europe: The South Tyrol model and its relevance for the Caucasusâ€ we finalize the second phase of a large project implemented jointly with our Italian colleaguesâ€, Mammadov said.

Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law, Faculty of Law, University of Trento, Italy Roberto Toniatti, who knows the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, spoke about the history of the conflict in South Tyrol and the process of its peaceful settlement. He said the time element was very important factor for every conflict. â€œThe process of South Tyrol took long time, but was ended successfully and could be a successful example. German-speaking population of South Tyrol has trans-border cooperation with Austria today and the process is supported by the European Unionâ€, said the professor.

Professor Mitja Å½agar, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, spoke about the protection of ethnic minorities in Europe. He said there was no absolute homogeneous society in the world. â€œThe minorities exist in every society and country and it is necessary to take their needs and interests into consideration.â€
The conference was continued in the sessions.