Azerbaijani president sends a message to participants of VI Conference of Culture Ministers of Islamic countries

"Azerbaijani society is highly tolerant. We are ready to continue constructive dialogue, which is a tradition for Azerbaijan today,” the message says.

The President noted that as Baku has been declared capital of Islamic culture in 2009, events at various levels are held here and the Head of State appreciates this conference as an event that promotes development in the cultural sphere.

The message says "well-known fact of occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia led to the destruction of mosques and other cultural and historical monuments in the occupied territories."

The president expressed hope that the conference will identify ways of cultural cooperation among Islamic countries.

In turn, ISESCO Secretary General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri appreciated the attention of the President of Azerbaijan to the conference and the activities of his organization as a whole.

Noting that earlier the organization discussed program of development of cultural sphere for 2010-2012, he stressed strengthening of the tourism in the Organization of Islamic Conference member states.

"This sphere is maintained by the governments of our countries. We will take a strategy for tourism development,” Altwaijri said.

He is convinced that cooperation between countries in the cultural sector will provide an impetus for economic development.

"ISESCO cooperates with other international organizations, which creates a bridge for intercultural dialogue. We must coordinate their efforts to achieve our goals and to put an end to the destruction of historical monuments of Islamic culture,” the ISESCO chief said.

/Interfax Azerbaijan/