Int'l High-Level Task Force Meeting held for World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue [PHOTO]

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Six months ahead of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, an International High Level Task Force preparatory meeting took place at UNESCO Headquarters.

The high-level meeting is supported by the Government of Azerbaijan with the participation of Abulfas Garayev, Minister of Culture and Tourism, and is organized in close partnership with UNESCO, Azertac reported.

The officials of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan, Permanent Delegation of Azerbaijan to UNESCO, UNESCO, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Council of Europe, ISESCO and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe attended the event.

Prior to the High Level Task Force meeting, head of the Department of International Cooperation at the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Secretary of the International Working Group on Intercultural Dialogue Vasif Eyvazzade and Azerbaijan`s Permanent Representative to UNESCO Anar Karimov informed about the "Baku process", the next Forum's priorities, expectations from partner international organizations in the expert meeting, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism said.

The officials discussed proposals of the organizations, which they represented for the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue to be held on May 5-6 in Baku.

Abulfas Garayev who chaired the meeting thanked the participants for participating in the meeting. He also expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for support and partnership on the initiative of "Baku process" and the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser spoke about the "Baku process" and the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

At the end of the meeting, it was decided that  the opening ceremony attended by senior government officials, 3rd meeting of the ministers of culture and tourism in the world, the first high-level meeting of heads of international organizations in financial, economic, political, cultural and social spheres, the plenary and panel sessions on culture and heritage, human security, peace and sustainable development, migration, the fight against extremism, religion and belief, tourism, education, science, youth and media would be held as part of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

The 3rd meeting of culture and tourism ministers of the world will be held as part of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue to be held in Baku on May 5-6, 2017, Trend reported.

The World Forums on Intercultural Dialogue became an international platform to enable and encourage people, countries and organizations around the globe to take concrete actions to support diversity, dialogue and mutual understanding among nations by raising awareness on the importance of intercultural dialogue worldwide.

The Forums organized so far have reached remarkable achievements by bringing together head of governments, ministers, heads of various international organizations, senior policy makers, cultural professionals, goodwill ambassadors, experts, journalists, practitioners, prominent intellectuals and activists.