President Ilham Aliyev: “In all periods, all peoples have lived as one family in Azerbaijan”

Baku, April 9 (AzerTAc). “This year, in 2011, the Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is being held in Baku. In autumn this year, the first international humanitarian forum will be held in Azerbaijan. That's to say all these events show that intercultural dialogue is more interesting in a place where there is strong will, and these meetings bring all peoples closer together and unite us even more. This is our intention,” said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the opening ceremony of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.
According to the Head of State, “We want all peoples and representatives of all religions to maintain close contact with each other, discuss all problems openly and express their views. Baku and Azerbaijan have already turned into a traditional venue for such authoritative events. Of course, this has geographic, historical and cultural grounds, because all peoples and representatives of all religions have been living in Azerbaijan as one family for centuries”.
“Regardless of the public-political system, Azerbaijan has never experienced not only a confrontation, but even a misunderstanding on ethnic and religious grounds. In all periods, all peoples have lived as one family in Azerbaijan and have been linked by bonds of friendship. We are very pleased that these positive tendencies have become even stronger at the time of Azerbaijan's development as an independent state”.