SPEECH BY MR MEVLÜT ÇAVUŞOĞLU, PRESIDENT

OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY, ON THE OPENING

OF THE EXHIBITION « CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN AZERBAIJAN »

(Strasbourg, Monday 21 June 2010, 13h00, Assembly Lobby)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to thank the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation and the Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe for offering us this exhibition. I know Azerbaijan very well and I am pleased to see that many more people, friends and colleagues from the Assembly as well as visitors, will have an opportunity to get to know this country a little better.

The objects on display were seized by the Azeri Customs in their everyday activity of border protection and fight of illegal trafficking. These beautiful, valuable items show the country’s ethnic and cultural diversity, highlighting the multinational and multi-confessional nature of Azerbaijan’s population. 

In the course of many centuries, history and humans have conspired to make Azeri people tolerant and disposed to respect the cultures of all ethnic groups and national minorities.  The fact of having passed through three religions – Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam – is another factor which makes for harmonious intercultural relations both at national and international level. 

This brings us back to the values of the Council of Europe. This organization unites the vast majority of European countries, embracing their diverse political ideas, cultures, languages and religions.

The key of   our success is precisely unity in diversity. Our diversity gives us the wealth of ideas and good practices; whereas our unity, deriving from our shared values, provides the strength to overcome differences and tackle new challenges.

I invite you all to walk around this wonderful exhibition and enjoy it together.