Overview

Goal of the Conference

Improving of interfaith and inter-civilizational dialogue to cooperation, promoting the preservation of religious tolerance traditions, propagation of cultural and moral values, as well as the statement of the common position of the participants on threats and challenges of the modern world.

Grounds of the Conference

During 2016 - 2017, a number of international events dedicated to the improvement of the interfaith and inter-civilizational dialogue was held in Azerbaijan, as well as in the other States, including the jointly convened conferences in Finland, Sweden, Iran, Turkey, Spain, Russia and Uzbekistan.

The idea of the establishment of the Baku International Centre for Interfaith and Inter-Civilizational Cooperation was proposed at the International Conference of the Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, held in Baku on December 21st, 2017 and was unanimously accepted by the participants.

State, science, public and religious figures representing more than 40 countries from Europe, America, Africa, Central and South East Asia and the Middle East, as well as heads of seven international organizations have participated at the International Conference. Declaring the significance of interfaith and inter-Civilizational solidarity in the struggle against terrorism, extremism, religious radicalism, aggressive separatism, political abuse of religion, as well as xenophobia and Islamophobia in the modern world, the Conference advised to continue such events on a permanent regular basis.

The conference assuredly emphasized the paramount significance of promotion of the interfaith and inter civilizational dialogue in eliminating the problems of modern world. The participants express their common position on the importance of increasing the joint efforts to promote the dialogue among civilizations and religions.

In his speech, given at the above-mentioned Conference, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. I. Aliyev has underlined the significance of the event for the world community, as well as its role for the peace making. The President has highly appreciated this initiative and manifested comprehensive support for the future activities of the Center by the Azerbaijani State. For this purpose, the Baku International Centre for Interfaith and Inter-Civilizational Cooperation (BCIC) under the Caucasus Muslims Board (CMB) was established in Baku, to operate on a permanent basis; the Board of Trustees and Advisory Council and Secretariat of the Centre were set up, and the future program of activities such as conferences and other joint events was put under processing. (Additional information about the Centre is provided).

Taking into account the above mentioned, the BCIC through the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Berlin offers to convene together with relevant German government and non-government bodies, religious and scientific centers a joint conference on theme "Improving the Interfaith and Inter-Civilizational Dialogue to Cooperation" to be held in Berlin on November 19th, 2018 (alternative proposals on the name of the conference welcome).

It could be founded that such conference held in the leading European state of Germany, where different faiths are represented, will raise more attention of the world community to this significant issue and contribute to create grounds for the manifestation of common position of the representatives of different civilizations and religions on the challenges of the modern world, peace and security.

Berlin Conference is planned to bring together the representatives of religious confessions, statesmen, scientists and cultural figures of Germany and Azerbaijan, as well as members of the Board of Trustees and Advisory Council of BCIC (total number of participants: about 250 persons).

The Azerbaijani Party would be grateful to the relevant Government and Non-Government organizations of Germany for acceptation of the present proposal.

Topics of the Conference:

• The improvement of the interfaith and inter-civilizational dialogue to solidarity and cooperation serves promotion of peace, prosperity and religious tolerance in the world;
• Terrorism, separatism, and xenophobia as challenges of the dialogue and solidarity;
• Contribution of the interfaith and inter-civilizational cooperation to enlightenment of the young generation and preservation of the moral and cultural heritage;
• Significance of increasing the world community's attention to the problems of those who face racial and religious intolerance, aggression and ethnic cleansing, as well as refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants;
• Significance of strengthening the joint efforts to struggle against the vandalism regarding historical and cultural monuments, religious tombs and attributes;
• Increase of joint efforts against harmful information propaganda which aims prevention of the inter-civilizational and interfaith dialogue and cooperation;
• The role of joint efforts of the state men, scientists and religious leaders in the promotion of intercivilizational and interfaith dialogue and cooperation.