COEXISTENCE SKILLS

Baku will host the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations on 25-27 April. World leaders, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, are expected to attend the forum.

Because of the forum to be held and the Azerbaijani model of a peaceful coexistence of different ethnic groups and followers of different religions to be presented to the world, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared the year 2016 Year of Multiculturalism.

Former Latvian President Valdis Zatlers has shared with R+ his vision of the need to promote the Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism.

- Given that a difficult situation is taking shape in the world at the moment, what is your assessment of the Azerbaijani president's decision to declare this year Year of Multiculturalism? 

- It is an absolutely right decision at the right time. At this critical historical moment, when all previous efforts of multicultural dialogue could be destroyed by terrorism, religious hate and wars, President Aliyev and Azerbaijan as a nation show the willingness to the global community not to give up. It is ready to be in the front lines of building up peace and multicultural understanding. That is a very strong message to the world and I highly appreciate the president's initiative. It is a clear call for leadership. 

- Each year Azerbaijan hosts different international events on this topic, and you are an active participant. What is your assessment of the effectiveness of those conferences?

- Let's not expect a very substantial immediate change in the global mindset after each conference or forum. But I am sure that there is an evident slight change after every event. People take home some new ideas, people go on thinking about what they can do to bring multicultural societies to better understand each other. But the most important thing is that the participants want to meet and discuss these topics again. That means they have become eager supporters of the idea of global peaceful multicultural coexistence. Each conference is just the next brick in this building of the future.

- Do you think the model proposed by Azerbaijan is able to attract the world's attention?

- The most important thing is to understand that we can create peace in society as well as globally only by creating strong stable secular states. That means that the social power of the state and the spiritual power of the religion are complementary to each other in serving their own people. Azerbaijan is a very good example of this pattern. Multiculturalism is already there. It is developing all the time. And it should be presented to the world. You must be proud of that. 

- On the whole, who needs the policy of multiculturalism?

- Most people don't like war. Wars are started by politicians and ended by people. If politicians scare people and afterwards promise to protect them by any means including military, it may lead to a war very easily. If people are feeling free, safe and protected in their everyday life, it is impossible to start war. But when the first bullet is shot, it creates casualties, sufferings, pain and hate. After that has happened, peace after the conflict is very fragile even for several generations despite all goodwill efforts.

- What caused the intercultural crisis in the world, especially in Europe?

- Europe is confused right now. It is impossible to adequately incorporate such a big number of newcomers. Europe has lived in peace because of its basic values and principles. Europe has become a little bit self-satisfied, a little bit arrogant and a little bit relaxed. My definition of multiculturalism is that multiculturalism is what is left after a government's successful integration policies. That means people have jobs, they know the local language, they know how to behave in public life, but at the same time they can freely practice their religious and family traditions. These two complementary parts create a well-functioning multicultural society. The most substantial issue is human dignity. The most important task for every person is to talk to each other in goodwill language. We should not underestimate the strength of the word of this language. That's what I do everywhere and every time. I talk to my people and I talk to the world about my people any time I have a chance. That is the only road to understanding, sharing and cooperation.

- What is your assessment of the multiculturalism policy of your country?

- We Latvians have been successful in building multicultural society and we are very proud of that. We have a respectful Russian minority which increased from 8 per cent to 28 per cent during the Soviet occupation. The key to a successful coexistence is the values of freedom, democracy and rule of law. All inhabitants feel free, safe and protected by the state. Ethnic minorities have the right to teach their children at minority schools partly in their own language. This helps to nourish their cultural traditions in a multicultural society. There is free choice of religious beliefs. In a secular state all churches get equal attitude from the state fixed by law. There is no competition among them. Latvia may be the only country where Catholic and Orthodox archbishops pray together at the same public worship at one of the cathedrals and visit the most important events of each denomination on a regular basis. Multicultural communities can live in one city, but at the same time feel separated and isolated one from another. But it is much better if we live together and enjoy each other. It is very important to get rid of several wounded feelings of the past, talk to each one very openly even on topics we disagree on, be honest to ourselves and others. I wish good luck to the people of Azerbaijan. Never give up promoting ideas of goodness and we all will succeed in our efforts.