TBILISI INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON GLOBALIZATION AND DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS STARTS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 24 2007

Tbilisi hosts International Forum on Globalization and Dialogue among
civilizations. The Forum is held under the auspices President of
Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili and Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro
Matsuura and with support of the Catolicos-Patriarch of all Georgia
Ilia II.

Georgian Ministries for Education, Foreign Affairs , Culture and
Sports, Georgian President’s mother, chairman of Georgia-Azerbaijan
Friendship House Giuli Alasaniya-chaired Georgia National Committee of
Dialogue Eurasia Platform Organization are participating in the forum.

The representatives from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Italy, Russia, France,
Germany, Poland, UAE, US, Romania, Austria, Kazakhstan and other states
attended the forum. Armenia is not represented at the international
forum.

Mikhail Saakashvili addressing the meeting said three or four
years ago Georgia’s economic situation was very bad. "80 percent of
population was not provided with electricity. This problem has already
been settled. Georgia was poor country in 2002 now it is one of the
quickly developing countries. Georgia is invested much more now,
the roads have been repaired and energy security is provided".

Touching upon the dialogue among civilizations Mikhail Saakashvili said
Georgia is multinational country where Azerbaijanis and Georgians live
in peace. "Previous Georgian government and my opposition called me
and Zurab Jvaniya Armenian. But I am pure Georgian. I answered them
if you hate Armenians I am Armenian, if you hate Azerbaijanis I am
Azerbaijani, if you hate Jewish I am Jewish".

Georgian President said there is no ethnic discrimination in his
country. "Marneuli International University gives Georgian language
lessons." I am proud of that every day Azerbaijanis and Armenians
raise Georgian flag and sings Georgian march before starting
lessons". Mikhail Saakashvili stressed the existence of religious
tolerance in Georgia. Georgian Orthodox Church play huge role in
the development of his country and tolerance. I extend my gratitude
to Ilia II. Tbilisi is the place of connection of church, synagogue
and mosque".

Catolicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II speaking on the importance
of dialogue between religions said dialogue among cultures mean
dialogue among religions too. The world can not exist without
globalization today. But the globalization should not violate national
spirit of nations and states".

Azerbaijan MP Ganira Pashayeva, Director General of Azeri Press Agency
(APA) Vusale Mahirgizi and editor of "Azad Azerbaijan "TV Etibar
Mammadov are expected to address the meeting.

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