The International Conference 'Derbent - 2000. The crossroads of civilizations', dedicated to its 2000th anniversary, opened in Moscow in the President Hotel. The vice-president of the Russian Council on International Affairs, the former head of North Ossetia, Alexander Dzasokhov, said that Derbent is the common heritage of Dagestan, Russia and the whole world.
The diplomat expressed hope that the world knowledge about Derbent will be expanded as a result of the whole serias of events, which is important for Russia.
He said that Russia shows concern for historical and cultural monuments. Unfortunately, the monuments have been destroyed, valuable things related to Roman civilization and Ancient Greece have been stolen in some regions. "On the other hand, I am sure we will express our extremely negative attitude to what is happening in Iraq as a result of the US invasion, or in Afghanistan, Libya, and even in Syria," Alexander Dzasokhov said.
The conference is organized by the Ministry of Culture of Dagestan, the Assembly of Peoples of Russia, the Federal Lezgin Ethnic-Cultural Autonomy, the Institute of Oriental Studies, the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO and the Cultural Representative Office of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Russian Federation.
The Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Russian state and public figures, deputies of the State Duma, the presidential envoy in the North Caucasus Federal District, foreign ambassadors and prominent scientists are participating in the conference.
