SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 6. Participants of the
international conference entitled "Cultural and Ethnic Diversity:
Lessons from History and Contemporary Challenges" in Shusha have
adopted a joint declaration.
The declaration text is the following:
1. Cultural and ethnic diversity, tolerance, and
multiculturalism must be a national asset for every state. No
nation should be humiliated, discriminated, or persecuted based on
its ethnic and religious affiliation. The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of
the Crime of Genocide, international obligations on the elimination
of all forms of racial discrimination, and UNESCO's principles on
the protection of cultural diversity must become effective tools
for protecting the fundamental rights of peoples who have been
expelled from their historical lands, subjected to mass massacres,
genocides, and deportations, and faced with the threat of losing
their historical and cultural heritage and language.Modern forms of
colonialism, and actions bringing tragedy, slavery, and suffering
to peoples, must be prevented. The ethnic and religious affiliation
of peoples must not be considered a crime, nor should it lead to
collective punishment;
2. The national dignity and pride of peoples must be taken into
account, the principles of humanism must be taken as a guide, and
confrontation and clashes must be replaced by dialogue,
cooperation, and an environment of trust;
3. The forced deployment of ethnic minorities in Russia -
Circassians, Lezgins, Avars, Tatars, Kumyks, Chechens, Sakhas,
Buryats, and other non-Russian peoples - to the Ukrainian front
through persecution, intimidation, and imprisonment must be
stopped. Russia must learn lessons from history, recognize the
genocides against Circassians and other peoples, cease the
glorification of those who shed their blood, and ensure that
archival materials on related historical topics are accessible.
Chauvinism and xenophobic rhetoric in Russia, as well as the
attacks and persecution against non-Russians by "Skinhead" gangs
and their various manifestations emerging under new names and
guises at their own discretion, must be stopped;
4. Azerbaijan's exemplary model in preserving ethnic and
cultural diversity, and in promoting interfaith, intercultural, and
inter-civilizational harmony and dialogue, must be commended.
Azerbaijan's historic Shusha Victory should serve as a model and a
symbol of the restoration of historical justice, which colonized
peoples need the most.
