UNESCO chief hails the organization`s relations with Azerbaijan

Paris, May 16, AZERTAC UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay has praised the organization`s relations with Azerbaijan as she met with the country`s Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev. Azoulay said UNESCO recognizes and supports Azerbaijan’s contributions to the development of intercultural dialogue. Minister Garayev touched upon the occupation of 20 percent of the Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, saying the country`s material and cultural monuments were destroyed in those lands. They discussed how UNESCO can intervene to tackle the situation. Azoulay expressed her hope that the conflict will be settled peacefully. She noted that through its expertise and experience UNESCO can provide assistance in restoring the cultural heritage sites located in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Garayev emphasized the outstanding contributions of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva to the development and strengthening of Azerbaijan-UNESCO relations. They exchanged views over the priority issues in the field of culture, particularly Azerbaijan's contribution to the development of intercultural dialogue, and the Baku Process, which marks its 10th anniversary this year and which has become a major international platform for promoting intercultural dialogue. They hailed UNESCO’s role in this process. They also underlined the importance of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, which is being held twice a year, describing it as one of UNESCO's most important events in the field of intercultural dialogue. Shahla Aghalarova Special Correspondent