Euroasian Jewish News

Report of EAJC Vice President German Zakharyayev. Photo by echo.az

Conference on Problems of Multiculturalism Takes Place in Azerbaijan

An international research and practice conference titled “Multiculturalism and the Experience of Azerbaijan in Ethnocultural Interaction” has taken place in Azerbaijan. The event was organized by the Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the International Mountain Jew Charity Foundation STMEGI. Quba city, where many mountain Jews live in close proximity, was chosen as the site of the conference.

The event gathered approximately 200 scholars, public figures, and representatives of the 15 national minorities that are officially recognized in Azerbaijan. Important scholars from Israel, particularly Dan Shapira of Bar-Ilan University, also participated in the conference.

The conference was initiated and funded in great part by Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) Vice President, President of the STMEGI Foundation German Zakharyayev. He read a lecture titled “Implementation of National Minority Rights as One of the Chief Achievements of Contemporary Azerbaijan.” The idea that Azerbaijan could become an example of inter-ethnic and interfaith tolerance for many parts of the world was key to the conference.

The reports read at the conference are planned to be published separately.