On November 18, 2015, a delegation of religious dignitaries from Azerbaijan will visit Stockholm. The delegation consists of the Muslim mufti, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, as well as the Russian Orthodox Archbishop, the Catholic Nuncio, and the leaders of the community of Mountain Jews and the Community of European Jews of Azerbaijan, as well as the State Counsellor for multiculturalism and religious affairs. In a time when the greater Middle East suffers from escalating sectarian conflict, the Azerbaijani delegation provides a unique example of ethnic, religious tolerance and mutual understanding -- as recently showcased by Time Magazine.

A seminar will be held in Stockholm's Sheraton Hotel on November 18 between 14.00-18.00, which will provide the opportunity to discuss the Azerbaijani and Swedish experiences of multiculturalism and religious tolerance.

The Institute for Security and Development Policy is a co-organizer of this seminar in cooperation with the Embassy of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Sweden, and the Baku International Multiculturalism Center.

Conference program:

- 14:00 – 14:30 Welcome speeches

Kamal Abdullayev: Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
State Adviser on Inter-ethnic, Multicultural and Religious Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan (click for video)

Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazada
Chairman of the Caucasian Muslim Board

Dr. Adish Mammadov
Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Sweden (click for video)

Dr. Svante Cornell
Director of the Institute of Security and Development Policy (click for video)

- 14:30 – 16:00 Panel I

"Azerbaijan's experience of inter-religious tolerance"

Moderator:
Azad Mammadov
Executive director of Baku International Multiculturalism Center

Lectures:
Kamal Abdullayev: Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
State Adviser on Inter-ethnic, Multicultural and Religious Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazada
Chairman of the Caucasian Muslim Board

Alexander Ishein
Archbishop of the Baku and Azerbaijan eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church

Ordinary Vladimir Fekete
Ordinary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan

Milix Yevdayev
Leader of the Mountain Jews Religious Community

Gennadiy Zelmanovich
Chairman of the Baku Religious Community of European Jews

16:00 – 16:30 Break

- 16:30 – 18:00 Panel II

"Azerbaijani and Swedish models of multiculturalism: comparative analysis"

Moderator:
Dr. Svante Cornell
Director of the Institute of Security and Development Policy

Lectures:

Helene Egnell
The Centre for Inter Faith Dialogue

Göran Lennmarker 
Former member of Swedish parliament, former president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

Azad Mammadov
Executive director of Baku International Multiculturalism Center

Dr. Svante Cornell
Director of the Institute of Security and Development Policy

Stefan Gullgren
Deputy Director-General of the Swedish MFA, Head of Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
 
The working languages of the conference will be Azerbaijani and English.

The complete program is available here. 

Location: 

CEO, Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC

Brenda Shaffer
Visiting Professor, Georgetown University

Kaush Arha
Vice Chairman ICCF Group
Former Senior Advisor Transition - US Embassy Kabul

MODERATOR:  S. Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute