Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education

6.2. The Baku Process: its Nature, History, Goals and Participants

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev put forward the Baku Process as an initiative to develop intercultural dialogue at a conference of ministers of culture from Europe and neighbouring regions held in Baku from 2 to 3 December 2008. Focusing on

the topic ‘Intercultural dialogue as the basis for sustainable peace and development in Europe and its neighbouring regions’, the conference was the first in a new format involving the ministers of culture of ten Muslim countries. It was attended by senior officials from 48 countries, representatives of eight international organizations and a number of international non-governmental organizations. The Baku Declaration on the Promotion of Intercultural Dialogue was adopted on the initiative of Azerbaijan. The Artists for Dialogue was launched on the initiative of Azerbaijan as a continuation of the Baku Process.

President Aliyev made a speech on the history and importance of the Baku Process at the opening of the III World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue held in Baku on 5 May 2015:

‘In 2008 Azerbaijan initiated the Baku Process, which is now highly appreciated by the world community. It was also our initiative to invite the ministers of the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the forum of ministers of member states of the Council of Europe. That was the first event of its kind, because Azerbaijan is one of the few countries to be a member of both organizations. In 2009 the Organization of Islamic Cooperation invited the ministers of culture of the countries of the Council of Europe to a meeting of ministers. All this was our initiative and this format came to be known as the Baku Process. Today the Baku Process includes dialogue among cultures and civilizations and issues in multiculturalism.’

The main actors in the Baku Process are the government of Azerbaijan, UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the Council of Europe, the Council of Europe’s North-South Centre, ISESCO and the UN World Tourism Organization.

The Baku Process has the following goals:

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1. 
   To develop understanding, dialogue and tolerance among cultures;
   

2. 
   To develop cooperation between Muslim and Western societies;
   

3. 
   To support forces of peace and reconciliation in order to ease religious and cultural tension among peoples, thereby building respect and understanding among cultures;
   

4. 
   To define the opportunities for culture, cultural heritage and the arts and to make more effective use of them in intercultural dialogue and cooperation;
   

5. 
   To support cultural and artistic endeavour and recognize the role of artists and cultural figures in stimulating intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding;
   

6. 
   To attract member-states and civil society to develop dialogue among the relevant international and regional organizations.
   

The Baku Process was created as a regional initiative, but in 2010 it was transformed into a global movement. President Ilham Aliyev was very much involved in this qualitatively new stage in the Baku Process. Addressing the 65th session of the UN General Assembly, President Aliyev declared that the next World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue would be held in Baku:

‘Azerbaijan has always been a place of coexistence and tolerance among different faiths, ethnic groups and philosophies. As an active member of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, Azerbaijan contributes to the development of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue based on mutual respect and understanding. Azerbaijan hosted the World Summit of religious leaders of 32 states in the spring of this year and on its initiative is to host the World Forum for Intercultural Dialogue in April 2011.’

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After this speech, President Aliyev signed an instruction that the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue should be held in Azerbaijan on 27 May 2011 and from then on should be held every two years in the Republic of Azerbaijan. To date, four World Forums on Intercultural Dialogue have been held in Baku since 2011.

Other important forums have also been held as part of the Baku Process: the World Summit of Religious Leaders on 26 to 27 April 2010; the Baku International Humanitarian Forums held in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016; the seventh Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations held on 25 to 27 April 2016.

Two significant sporting events held in Azerbaijan – the first European Games in June 2015 and the IV Islamic Solidarity Games in May 2017 – can also be associated with the Baku Process as a means of developing intercultural dialogue. One of the main goals of both sporting events was the development of dialogue among different cultures.

The 10th anniversary the Baku Process fell in 2018. President Aliyev noted in his speech at the opening of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue:

‘The government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations have launched an initiative to create the Baku Process award for leadership in intercultural dialogue in order to honour those who play an active role in promoting dialogue among cultures and civilizations.’

The Baku Process to encourage dialogue among cultures and civilizations shows that multiculturalism has an important influence on the foreign policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Process has become a global movement and is developing dynamically. Every year the Republic of Azerbaijan hosts international events as part of the Baku Process, which increase the role of Azerbaijan in promoting dialogue among cultures and civilizations.

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In her speech at the opening of the IV World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue on 5 May 2017, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, deputy secretary-general of the Council of Europe, had this to say about the Baku Process:

‘Yes, while if it was a dream in 2008, the Baku Process has now become reality. Thanks to the perfect opportunity provided by the Baku Process and the forums on intercultural dialogue we have been able to gather and discuss the issues facing our world today… Mr President, I ask you and the first vice-president Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva never to let the flame of the Baku Process be extinguished, because there is a great need for peace, harmony and coexistence in the world.’