“Intercultural Dialogue as a basis for peace and sustainable development in Europe and its neighbouring regions”

The first ministerial conference on intercultural dialogue, the Conference of Ministers responsible for Culture took place from 2 - 3 December 2008 in Baku, Azerbaijan on the topic of “Intercultural dialogue as a basis for peace and sustainable development in Europe and its neighbouring regions”.

Participants from 36 Council of Europe member states, 10 ISESCO member states, observers, International Organisations (UN Alliance of Civilisations, UNESCO, ALECSO, ISESCO), personalities from the cultural sector and cultural associations exchanged their vision and ideas, unanimously adopted a Declaration for the Promotion of Intercultural Dialogue and launched the “Artists for Dialogue” programme, led by the Azerbaijani Government. Azerbaijan took the opportunity during the conference to sign the Council of Europe’s Granada Convention on the protection of the architectural heritage and the UN Alliance of Civilizations acceded to the Faro Open Platform of 2005. ALECSO also made a request to accede to the Platform. A compilation of all speeches given and a detailed conference report is available on the Council’s Culture website. Dialogue between Europe and its neighbouring regions will be further pursued at the occasion of the Meeting of Ministers of Culture of Islamic countries (October 2009 in Baku), to which Council of Europe member states will be invited.