BAKU: Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, has said that King Abdullah's initiative to promote dialogue has begun to filter down into “the world community, intellectuals and discussion rooms everywhere”. Khoja, speaking in Azerbaijan where he is taking part in the International Forum for Dialogue between Cultures, described the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as a “pioneer” for the initiative which was “first put into effect among Islamic thinkers in Makkah, irrespective of their religious differences, thought or sect”. “That was followed by a series of dialogue gatherings between followers of religions,” he said. “The Madrid conference was then an important stage in the march forward, followed by the New York conference.” Khoja said the forum in the Azerbaijan capital was “extremely important”. “The world now understands that the only way for co-existence and living in peace is through dialogue.” The Saudi Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Fahd Al-Dossari, said that the Kingdom's involvement in the Baku forum was an example of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' concern for dialogue “in all fields”. “The Saudi delegation taking part in the forum is one of the largest at the event, and other participants have spoken of the significance of Saudi representation here and the activities it is staging to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between different civilizations and work in the interests of all people,” he said. The UNESCO and ISESCO-held Baku forum is being attended by representatives from a range of organizations and a number of writers and thinkers from around the world.
