Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia advocates for expanding CIS humanitarian fund

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu, has proposed that the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS member states be expanded to include countries beyond the Commonwealth.

He presented this idea during the final session of the 10th St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures, which was chaired by Tatyana Golikova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Forum's Organizing Committee, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

In his remarks, Ambassador Bulbuloglu revisited discussions from the forum about establishing new mechanisms for cultural interaction. He highlighted the existing Interstate Fund of the CIS countries, which was established in 2006. At that time, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined the fund's objectives during a speech at Moscow University. Bulbuloglu, who has served as chairman of the fund since 2010, noted that Mikhail Shvydkiy was appointed co-chairman from the Russian side. The fund has been responsible for various initiatives, including the interstate program “Cultural Capital of the Commonwealth,” the interstate award “Commonwealth Stars,” and the international award for emerging young talents, “Commonwealth of Debuts.”

Bulbuloglu stressed the importance of preserving and building on the fund's accomplishments. “It is crucial not to lose the progress made over the years. We should consider revising and expanding the fund’s role, potentially including additional countries beyond the CIS. The world is much larger now. Instead of creating new mechanisms, which often involve complex bureaucracy, we should enhance and broaden the existing fund to continue its valuable work,” he said.

The ambassador also emphasized that while a nation’s culture should remain distinctive, it is essential to foster interactions with other cultures. He argued that such exchanges are fundamental for the growth and development of both individual nations and the global community.