The Director-General will address the opening ceremony in the presence of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Mr Ilham Aliyev, the High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Mr Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, and the Director General of Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Mr Abdulaziz Ottoman Altwaijri.

Following the opening ceremony, the Director-General will launch the book “Agree to Differ”, a landmark publication on the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures, which is being led forward by UNESCO. The book is co-published by UNESCO and Tudor Rose.

The Forum is co-organized by UNESCO, the Government of Azerbaijan, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the World Tourism Organization, the Council of Europe, and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is also known as the “Baku Process”, initiated in 2008. The two previous editions were held in 2011 and in 2013.

The Director-General will also take part in a ceremony inaugurating the Tree of Peace sculpture – a unique work of art by UNESCO Artist for Peace, Hedva Ser, in the centre of Baku. The ceremony will take place in the presence of the First Lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

While in Baku, the Director-General is expected to meet with the First Lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Oral and Musical Traditions, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Abulfas Garayev.

The Director-General will visit the Walled City of Baku, including the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2000, as well as the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum and the International Mugham Centre.