Berlin appreciates Azerbaijani multiculturalism

Orkhan Sattarov, the head of the European office of Vestnik Kavkaza

Ahead of marking Republic Day in Azerbaijan on May 28th, a symposium “Multiculturalism and Inter-Religious dialogue in Azerbaijan: Historic Experience and Socio-Political Model of the Future” took place at the Academy of Sciences of Berlin and Brandenburg. It was organized with the support of the Azerbaijani Embassy to Germany, the German-Azerbaijani Forum, the International Center of Multiculturalism, and the Department of History of Azerbaijan at Humboldt University.

The Special Envoy for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia at the German Foreign Office, Cord Meier-Klodt, spoke about successes in the development of German-Azerbaijani relations over the last 24 years. “We closely cooperate in the bilateral format in the spheres of politics, economics, culture, and society. Moreover, our relations are developing within the framework of multilateral relations. Since 2009, Azerbaijan has been a member of the EU program of the Eastern Partnership. I should say that the last summit of the Eastern Partnership in Riga had important and significant messages. The main message of the summit was about the idea of a differentiated approach to the countries,” the German diplomat said.

According to him, “it was decided to actively concentrate on individual aspects and necessities of the countries, working with each partner, to consider their individual interests and ambitions. The Eastern Partnership is not directed against anyone; and offers of the program give the member states an opportunity to find their own niche, notwithstanding whether they have an intention of signing an association agreement with the EU, or the partners have different views on the situation,” Meier-Klodt said.

He thinks that this is the most interesting political message of the Riga summit. “Of course, it doesn’t mean that the program will work according to the principle of ‘anything goes.’ Goals and values – democracy, stability, intensive cooperation – remain unchanged; and this was confirmed at the Riga summit as well,” he stressed.

The representative of the German Foreign Office expressed his personal view on the atmosphere of religious tolerance in Azerbaijan. “Shiites, Sunnis, Jews, Orthodox and Catholic Christians, Protestants live together in peace in Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, not everybody knows about this successful model. We hope that the existing tolerant atmosphere will not only continue in Azerbaijan, despite the tense situation in the region, but also continue to develop due to the work of politicians and civic society. The rich variety of ethnic and religious groups predetermined further support for multiculturalism,” Meier-Klodt concluded.