Yefim Pivovar: Representatives of various political circles from various countries want to visit Baku

The International Humanitarian Forum was held in Baku. The motto of the event was “XXI century: hopes and challenges.” President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the head of the Presidential Administration of Russia Sergey Naryshkin, the former president of Turkey Suleyman Demirel, the ambassador of the USA to Azerbaijan Mathew Bryza, the chairman of PACE Mevlut Chavushoglu, the general director of UNESCO Abdelzazis Ibn Osman Al-Tuveiji, the deputy of the general director of UNESCO on communication and information James Karklins, and representatives of more than 20 countries and powerful international organizations participated in the event. One of them, the head of the Russian State University for the Humanities, Yefim Pivovar, expressed his impressions to VK.

- It is a unique event. There are few such platforms for discussion of scientific and artistic development. There are economic and political forums, but no humanitarian forums. It is a combination of fundamental humanitarian science and values of culture, the mass media, which influences the collective consciousness and has to solve the political problems of multiculturalism, relations between ethnic groups and cultures. The media covers the influence of these factors on policy, development of consciousness and science, as well as gnoseology. Such a combination of various humanitarian aspects has been carried out for the first time. Azerbaijan is a convenient platform for such discussions, as Nobel Prize winners, great scientists, artists, educational activists and politicians, who deal with humanitarian sphere, can come here.

- Can you say that the theme of multiculturalism was the central one at the forum?

- Of course. The panel devoted to this theme was the first in a series, and it was wide-ranging. I opened this panel as moderator of the section, and there were 450 people in the hall. Among the speakers there were representatives from Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Pakistan, Israel, Iran, Germany and Great Britain. This section was divided into three subsections: multiculturalism and state policy; multiculturalism and collective consciousness; multiculturalism and science. Dozens of politicians, deputies of parliaments, Nobel Prize winners, artists, editors of well-known magazines and other periodicals and educational workers participate in it. For example, the head of the Baku branch of Moscow State University, Nargiz Pashayeva, represented Azerbaijan.

- Summing up the results, what can you say?

- As for results, positive and negative experiences of cooperation between power and society in political and multicultural spheres were presented. There are challenges, which must be overcome using this experience. It is overdone to think that existing approaches cannot solve the problems of multiculturalism.

Today positive progress in several difficult regions in this sphere was shown. The discussion proved that there is no extreme success or extreme failure in this sphere. Both of these approaches are ineffective.

- What do you think about Baku?

- Baku is developing rapidly. New buildings are being constructed. The city improves its appearance, and it is obvious. Of course, there are problems connected with unsettled regional conflicts and refugees. However, in other spheres Azerbaijani society is developing rapidly and effectively.

- Is it an example of multiculturalism?

- Yes. It doesn’t make regional conflicts pale into insignificance, but in all other aspects progress is obvious.

Interview by Yevgeny Krishtalyev. Exclusively to VK.