“Intercultural dialogue: interaction between culture and religion”: in the framework of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the 2014 Council of Europe Exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue will take place at the Hilton Baku Hotel, on 1-2 September 2014.

Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini Dragoni will open the event together with Kamal Abdulla (State Adviser on multinational, multicultural and religious affairs), Mubariz Gurbanly (Chairman of the State Committee on religious associations), and Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh (Grand Mufti of the Caucasus). Rafael Huseynov, Rapporteur of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media on “Freedom of religion and religious practices”, representative of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly and Jean-Claude Frécon, President of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress will also be at the opening.

Azerbaijan has included the consolidation of culturally diverse societies based on mutual respect and understanding among the main priorities of its Chairmanship (14 May–13 November 2014), highlighting the role of intercultural dialogue to fight discrimination and intolerance in Europe.(more...)