05 May 2017
4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue H.E : Culture creates a very constructive dialogue between peoples and countries
H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al- Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA) took part at the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, from 5 to 6 May 2017, on the theme “Advancing Intercultural Dialogue – New avenues for human security, peace and sustainable development”. It aims at further promoting and sustaining understanding and dialogue within and between cultures. The Forum is organized under the patronage of H.E. Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in the presence of UNESCO Dircetor, Irina Bokova, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), General Dirceor, Mr. Taleb Al-Rifaa, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), General Director, Dr. Abdula Aziz Al-Tuwaijri, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the Council of Europe, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.
During her inaugural address H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, highlighted the importance of the forum and the need to discuss the latest international developments, which do have impact, directly or indirectly, on the mnay countries and peoples around the globe. H.E said “ I think that this forum, at this specific time, represents a good opportunity to shed light on the common ground and the platform for culture to interconnect, creating a very refined and civilised dialogue between beautiful minds that highly esteem the importance of diversity in the development of peoples and countries”. H.E added “ Under the current circumstances, whereby the world is undergoing many conflicts and armed disputes that make the atmosphere bleak and harsh, not bright and beautiful, only culture, with its tangible or intangible elements, stands as our saviour, light at the end of the tunnel, symbol of hope and life-loving feelings”. H.E continued saying that “ Culture, besides the fact it is one of the ‘ soft’ powers, is considered a very important indicator of the level of a civilised nation reached. Culture and society are truly two-sides of a coin; it is the real wealth capable of undepleted nourishment forever”.
H.E also highlighted,during her intervention, the importance sustainability in the development of many sectors and domains in any country’s economy and society and that sustainable tourism as “all forms of tourism development, management and activities that provide long life and cultural activities that will preserve for future use all inherited resources (natural, cultural or built) which allow further development of tourism. sustainable tourism should make optional use of the en¬vironmental resources, respect the socio-cultural authen¬ticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and ensure viable, long term economic operations providing socio-economic benefits to all stake¬holders. H.E added “ I was honoured to be nominated as “Special Ambassador for the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 by WTO, and I think that we are concerned, as responsible for culture sector, to include the notion sustainability in all our development future plans”.
It is worth mention that the Forum’s agenda included topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations. The Forum brought together heads of governments, ministers, heads of various international organizations, senior policy makers, cultural professionals, goodwill ambassadors, experts, journalists, practitioners, prominent intellectuals and civil society activists.
