DUSHANBE, December 4, 2008, Asia-Plus — A two-day Conference of Ministers responsible for Culture organized on the theme of ””Intercultural Dialogue as a Basis for Peace and Sustainable Development in Europe and its Neighboring Regions”” concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan on December 3.
According to the Ministry of Culture (MoC), the conference that formed a sequel to the publication in May 2008 of the Council of Europe ””White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue”” resulted in adoption of the Baku Declaration.
The Baku conference is the first ministerial level encounter devoted to the practical follow-up to this crucial document and its recommendations regarding culture and heritage. It allows us to move from the theory to the practice of dialogue. Intercultural dialogue is among the priorities set by the Summit of Heads of State and Government in Warsaw (2005).
At the invitation of the Azerbaijani authorities, the Conference gathered the 49 signatory States of the European Cultural Convention and the Ministers of certain member states of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).
Tajikistan was represented by Culture Minister Mirzoshorukh Asrori and head of the publishing industry directorate within the Ministry of Culture (MoC) Mirzobadal Badalov.
The conference participants approved common principles on the approach to the diversity of the cultures in the document, saying they affirmed cultural diversity between and within countries as a common heritage of humankind, agreed to contribute to sustainable economic, social and personal development, favorable for cultural creativity, promoted a sustained process of intercultural dialogue, which is essential for international cooperation, with a view to promoting Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law and reaffirmed the important role of cultural policies at national, regional and local level and their contribution for promoting intercultural dialogue.
