BAKU A forum formed by the Helsinki Civil Assembly opened in this capital city of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Sunday aimed at discussing the issue of protection of human rights in conflict zones.
The three-day forum, with the theme of an invitation for dialogue among civilizations, will discuss and exchange views on international issues including a defense of human rights and culture of peace, a dialogue among civilizations and religions, the search for solutions to the current conflicts of the world, common efforts of international agencies to settle disputes in the Caucasus and development of democracy in world countries.
Some 600 delegates from international agencies and representative offices of 23 member countries of the Helsinki Civil Assembly such as the Netherlands, Britain, Belgium, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Russia, France, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, the Czech Republic, Georgia and Azerbaijan are attending the event.
The participation of a 40-member delegation from Armenia and Karabakh in the forum which constitutes the first visit to Baku of a collective body since the 12-year conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, is being assessed as highly important.
Speaking at the session, Ali Hassanov, deputy prime minister and head of the Azerbaijani Commission on War Victims, pointed to the negative consequences of the conflict to both countries.
Saeid Kharrazi, a personnel of the Iranian Embassy in Baku, told participants in the forum that the dialogue of civilizations initiated by President Khatami came about in response to the demands of mankind.
However, he further remarked, dialogue among civilizations is neither tantamount to submission to other cultures and civilizations nor to a domination of one over another.
The Helsinki Civil Assembly was formed in 1991 on the initiative of Czech President Vaclav Havel. Currently, it has representative offices active in over 27 world countries.
(IRNA)