On 16 February the participants of the VIII International Winter School of Multiculturalism “The Literary-artistic Sources of Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” organized by Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism commemorated the architect and builder of the Azerbaijani state, the national leader Heydar Aliyev, and laid bouquets of flowers on his tomb.

The outstanding ophthalmologist-scientist, Academician Zarifa Khanum Aliyeva was also commemorated, and fresh flowers were laid on her tomb.

The youth, who further visited the Martyrs’ Alley, commemorated the heroic sons of the Motherland, who sacrificed themselves in the struggle for our country’s freedom and its territorial integrity, and laid bouquets of flowers on their tombs.

The participants of the project, who were enjoying the view of the Azerbaijani capital from the highest point of Baku, were informed about the history of the Martyrs’ Alley and the restoration and reconstruction activities carried out in our capital.

In his interview with the journalists the Executive Director of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Ravan Hasanov stated that the Centre has been implementing significant projects associated with the presentation of Azerbaijani multiculturalism in the world, its advocacy and promotion on an international scale as it is targeted by President Ilham Aliyev. The goal of the international winter and summer schools of multiculturalism organized twice a year is to enable the students, who study Azerbaijani multiculturalism, to see and witness all that they had learnt theoretically in our country, where multicultural and tolerant values are being maintained. The winter school was attended by the students from such countries as Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Check Republic, Germany, Serbia, India, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Japan, Spain, Tajikistan, Greece, Portugal, Russia, Bulgaria, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Brazil. The Executive Director mentioned that the participants of the winter school will hear lectures on the multicultural state, tolerant ambience, ethnic-religious diversity in Azerbaijan, the peaceful co-existence of the representatives of different nationalities, diverse confessions in our country.

The Portuguese participant of the winter school Joio Mestgri said, “Azerbaijan is a country within my circle of interest. We are going to get some profound information on Azerbaijan during our present trip. Today Azerbaijan is one of the main countries advocating multiculturalism in the world.”

The Japanese participant Taka Hio Vatanabi stated, “I have always been interested in literature, especially I’ve got some information on Nizami Ganjavi’s works. I’ve always wondered how multiculturalism was formed in Azerbaijan. I am going to find an answer to my similar questions during the winter school.”