Efim Pivovar: "Tolerance in Azerbaijan is a result of the authorities' effective work"

Azerbaijan gets into top-5 of the countries with the highest level of tolerance along with Canada, Australia, Argentina, and Sweden. What are reasons for this? Efim Pivovar, RSUH President, historian, Associate Member of the RAS The reason is a rather effective internal policy, a policy of peaceful living of religions and a policy of tolerance, respect toward customs, as well as the cultures of the peoples who historically live in Azerbaijan. For sure the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict worsened and tensed the situation. But it concerns only one direction, all other directions, relations, cooperation between nations are key directions for the government of Ilham Aliyev and the leadership of the country. And it is not an accident that one of main topics discussed at the humanitarian forum which was initiated by presidents of our countries was multiculturalism. The topic was a key theme this time, and the President of Azerbaijan touched on the topic in his speech. And it means that attention to this question is fruitful. Of course, we shouldn’t rest on our laurels. The problem is urgent not only for Azerbaijan, but also for Russia and any other country where various religions exist, various ethnic groups, big Diasporas live in peace. Everybody is involved into the process all over the world. We should treat the problem carefully, to consider whether the balance can be ruined. I think the survey means that the government follows a right course, but if it doesn’t pay constant attention to the problem, awful things can happen.