Azerbaijan: A Leading Nation Advocating Peace And Humanitarianism – OpEd
By Peter Tase
On October 2-3, 2014, the Republic of Azerbaijan will be hosting its fourth Baku International Humanitarian Forum, which will gather global leaders, heads of state, scientists, journalists and civil society leaders who have had a significant and positive impact in their communities world wide.
Since 2011, the government of President Ilham Aliyev, the main host and organizer of Baku International Humanitarian Forum, has demonstrated to the world the values, aspirations and admirable progress that Azerbaijan has embraced during the last decade. The government of Azerbaijan has been a strong advocate of International Law, Democratic values, a staunch supporter of human rights and has always maintained strategic relations with the United States.
On December 31st, 2013, during the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis in the World, President Aliyev emphasized: Azerbaijan’s development in all spheres pleases every citizen of Azerbaijan. Our international positions strengthened. Azerbaijan’s international relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally, became broader and stronger. In all international organizations, of which we are members, we carried out an active policy and gained great international support. This year, Azerbaijan completes its activities in the UN Security Council. During the two years, Azerbaijan took an active part in the UN Security Council, in the world’s number one entity. It protected international law and justice.” [1]
Baku International Humanitarian Forum, makes Azerbaijan a special country since there are only very few countries in the world that organize and sponsor such activities that are essential for Global Peace, Economic Prosperity, International Sustainable Development and increase communication between ethnic and religious groups.
The government of Azerbaijan, despite its peaceful efforts and willingness to preserve constructive diplomacy and an open dialogue, continues to have occupied territories by the government of Armenia for many years. Yerevan refuses to respect the four UN Security Council Resolutions as well as a number of other resolutions in favor of Azerbaijan, adopted by the Council of Europe, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OSCE, European Parliament and many other international organizations. Armenia, since its independence, has blatantly violated International Law and ignored the statements issued by the International Community in favor of Azerbaijan’s right to regain control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Baku International Humanitarian Forum sheds further light on the suffering of the Azerbaijani People, the importance of dialogue, ethnic diversity and shares with the world the impressive economic growth of Azerbaijan and its aspirations to become an industrialized and highly developed country in the future.
Last year the Baku Forum welcomed eight hundred participants, included 7 former Presidents, 13 Nobel Prize laureates, 7 Emeritus Professors, 107 world-famous public and political figures; 70 countries and five international organizations were represented overall, 800 participants, representing 70 countries and 5 international organizations. [2]
The Founders of Baku International Humanitarian Forum are the President of Azerbaijan Hon. Ilham Aliyev and his counterpart the President of Russian Federation Dmitriy Medvedev. The first gathering was held on October 10-11, 2011, under the outline of “XXI century: Hopes and Challenges”, including Seven round tables with dignitaries and international experts. The main goal of the Forum is to build a dialogue through discussion in round tables and preserve the rule of law, democratic values and fosters respect for the territorial integrity of sovereign and independent countries.
Resources:
[2] http://www.bakuforum.org/en/main_page_forum2011/aboutforum2011/
