SOUTH CAUCASIAN CULTURE ANALYZED IN MOSCOW
RIA Novosti
October 02, 2004
MOSCOW, October 2 (RIA Novosti) – The plan of cooperation for
2004-2005 was adopted at the two-day 4th conference of culture
ministers entitled “Variety of cultures and European unity: dialogue
in the name of demographic stability”, which closed in Moscow on
Friday, Catherine Roth, Council of Europe’s director for culture,
cultural and natural heritage, told journalists in Moscow.
The conference was held within the Council of Europe’s Stage project
and was dedicated to the analysis of culture of the three South
Caucasian countries, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.
Representatives of Austria, Germany, Greece, Russia, Switzerland,
Turkey and Ukraine also took part in the conference.
According to Catherine Roth, the sides agreed to help each other
develop museums and libraries and promote cultural policy of cities.
The conferees adopted a declaration saying that culture is making an
important contribution in the building of peaceful, stable and open
Europe free from conflicts and violence, the director said.
On his part, Azerbaijan’s Culture Minister Polad Byul-byul ogly said
in a RIA Novosti interview that “cultural dialogue was useful and
necessary”.
“Contacts are highly important. This is a possibility to get
acquainted with European cultural values, exchange cultural riches and
talk about each other’s problems,” the minister noted.
Speaking about the development of culture in Azerbaijan, the minister
pointed out with satisfaction that the state kept paying more and more
attention to cultural problems and increased state financing of this
sphere.
According to Polad Byul-byul ogly, in 2005 24% more money will be
allocated on culture development from Azerbaijan’s state budget than
in 2004.