A conference on 'Religious tolerance: the culture of co-existence in Azerbaijan' was held in Paris on September 8 as part of the project 'Azerbaijan in the Heart of Paris' organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
The first lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, attended the conference.
Addressing the conference, she said that Azerbaijan was historically located at the crossroads of civilizations and cultures, being a bridge between Asia and Europe, and that these factors played an important role in the cultural diversity in the country.
Mehriban Aliyeva noted that the traditions of tolerance still live in Azerbaijan. The country is a member of both the Organization for Islamic Cooperation and the Council of Europe.
"We are proud of our cultural and historical heritage," Trend cited the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation as saying.
She stressed that along with mosques there are also churches and synagogues in Azerbaijan, and the representatives of all religions have equal rights. According to her, the country has never experienced any confrontation on religious and ethnic grounds.
In her speech, Mehriban Aliyeva also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reminding that 20% of Azerbaijani lands are under occupation, one million residents were turned into refugees and displaced persons.
Alongside representatives of Azerbaijan, the conference was attended by senior officials and representatives of influential religious organisations of France.
