NEWS

The Section of the International Conference Dedicated to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Serbia

27 april, 2018

Azerbaijan University of Languages (the AUL) holds the I International Scientific Conference “Heydar Aliyev: Multiculturalism and the Ideology of Tolerance” dedicated to the 95th Jubilee of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev with the support of the New Azerbaijan Party and Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism.

The sections of the conference have been organized at the Universities of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Russia, China, Ukraine, Belorussia and Georgia.

The sections of the conference in different countries continue their work. The following sections have already been held: the section on “The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan Is the First Democratic Republic in the East” at Ural Federal University after B.Yeltsin in Russia; the section on “Heydar Aliyev’s Role in the Development of Azerbaijani-Ukrainian Relations” at Kiev National Linguistics University in Ukraine; the section on “Heydar Aliyev and the Turkic World” at Ataturk University in Turkey; the section on “Modern Azerbaijan: Social, Political and Economic Development” at Erciyez University in Turkey;  the section on “Above the Borders: Russia and Azerbaijan: the Practice of Intercultural Dialogue” at the State Russian Language Institute after A.S.Pushkin; the section on “Multiculturalism, Social Security, Immigration, Freedom” at Southern Lazio University in Italy; the section on “The Dialogue of Languages and Cultures as a Factor of Co-existence in the Polycentric World” at Moscow State Linguistics University, the section on “East-West: Intercultural Dialogue in the XXI Century” at Samara Branch of Moscow Pedagogical University, the section on  “Heydar Aliyev’s Role in the Development of Azerbaijani-Georgian Relations” at Tbilisi State University, and the section on  “One Belt – One Way: Teaching on Multiculturalism” at Huzhou University.

On 26 April Belgrade University held the section “Azerbaijani Practice of Multiculturalism” of the International Conference dedicated to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

The event was attended by the Extraordinary  and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Serbia Eldar Hasanov, the Vice-rector of Azerbaijan University of Languages, Professor Afgan Abdullayev, the Head of the Department of World Literature (Baku State University), the outstanding researcher of Southern Slav literature in Azerbaijan, Professor Jalil Naghiyev, the Editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan State Publishing House, publicist, translator of the prominent Serbian writer Milorad Pavich’s  world-renowned novel “The Caspian Dictionary” into Azerbaijani, Honoured Journalist Alovsat Aghalarov, the Rector of Belgrade University, Doctor Vladimir Bumbashirevich, the Dean of the Philological Faculty Lyilyana Markovich, the member of the group “Friendship with Azerbaijan” in the Serbian Parliament, member of the Board of the Serbian Royal Academy Lyubisha Stoymirovich, the members of the Parliament Miliya Miletich and Marco Parezanovich, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Serbia Tamara Rastovach Simashvili as well as the employees of the Serbian state, government institutions, diplomatic corpus, scientific, academic circles, and Mass Media representatives.

The member of the group “Friendship with Azerbaijan” in the Serbian Parliament, member of the Board of the Serbian Royal Academy Lyubisha Stoymirovich pointed out the great importance of multiculturalism and tolerance for the peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding of the nations, the people in the world where new technologies and inventions appear very rapidly. It was stated that in Serbia tolerance and multiculturalism have been reflected and further developed in the great Serbian scholar Nikola Tesla’s theories, while in Azerbaijan they have been established and further developed owing to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s activities. It was emphasized that both in Serbia and Azerbaijan different ethnic minorities co-exist and their customs have always been treated with respect, and that tolerance has been displayed towards them.

The Professor of Belgrade University, scholar in Eastern Studies Ema Milkovich stated that the Azerbaijanis are a multicultural nation. She noted that there are ethnic minorities worshipping various religions and speaking different languages. The Professor pointed out that the rights of the national minorities have always been guaranteed by the state which has found its reflection in the Constitution of the country and that the minorities have never encountered any discrimination and that Azerbaijan is an example to many states.

The Head of the Department of World Literature (Baku State University), outstanding researcher of Southern Slav literature in Azerbaijan, Professor Jalil Naghiyev, pointed out that historically there has been a great spiritual link between Serbian and Azerbaijani literature, the literary pieces have been translated into both directions and presented to the world readers. Drawing parallels between the works of both the nations’ writers, the professor stressed the reflection of the ideas of multiculturalism, humanism and justice, peaceful co-existence of the nations in them.

The Editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan State Publishing House, publicist, translator of the prominent Serbian writer Milorad Pavich’s  world-renowned novel “The Caspian Dictionary” into Azerbaijani, Honoured Journalist Alovsat Aghalarov underlined the importance of the Centre established at Belgrade University with the support of the Azerbaijani state in bringing the Serbian and Azerbaijani peoples closer and in the consolidation of the cultural ties between them. He also spoke of the development of the relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia in many fields, many-century-old culture, customs and traditions.

The Director of the Centre for Azerbaijani Culture in Belgrade, Professor of Novi Sad Art Academy Zarifa Alizadeh pointed out a number of achievements in cultural and humanitarian areas between the two countries. The professor focused the attention to the reciprocal translation of over 17 works by Azerbaijani and Serbian writers and the noteworthy activities of the Embassy from this point of view. She said that there are fine relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia, and the cooperation is being continued to further develop the relations.

The event was accomplished with the presentation of diplomas of acknowledgement to the Rector of Azerbaijan University of Languages Kamal Abdulla, the Vice-rector Afgan Abdullayev, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Serbia Eldar Hasanov, the Director of the Centre for Azerbaijani Culture in Belgrade Zarifa Alizadeh and the other people who have contributed to the formation of the Centre.

In the frames of the trip to Belgrade the delegation visited the statues erected to our people’s National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the outstanding Serbian writer Milorad Pavich in Tashmaydan Park, the monument “We Were Just Children” dedicated to the memory of the children killed during the NATO bombardments in 1999, the great composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s bust on the bank of Danube in the city of Novi Sad and laid flowers in front of them.

It should be reminded that the closing ceremony of the International Conference “Heydar Aliyev: Multiculturalism and the Ideology of Tolerance” will be held at Azerbaijan University of Languages on 4-5 May 2018. The event will be attended by the representatives of the universities from 11 countries and other international institutions.