July 10, 2017 | Baku, Azerbaijan
The Modern Information Society and Innovations Public Union held an event titled “Promotion of National and Moral Values and Azerbaijani Truths on Social Media” at the International Press Center.
The event was attended by Hikmat Babaoglu, Member of the National Assembly; Gulsel Safarova, a representative of the Social and Political Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration; as well as NGO leaders, project activists, and media representatives.
Opening the event, Bahruz Garamammadov, Project Coordinator, provided an overview of the history and mission of the Public Union and outlined the objectives of the project. He emphasized the active role played by Azerbaijani youth in countering attempts to appropriate national and moral values through foreign media and platforms, noting that cultural figures also contribute significantly to protecting Azerbaijan’s rich poetic and musical heritage.
He stressed that safeguarding national and moral values from the negative effects of globalization is a civic responsibility and highlighted the importance of promoting Azerbaijan’s centuries-old historical and cultural heritage to future generations. According to him, greater engagement with well-known professional artists in educational institutions, intellectual forums, and television programs is essential, as excessive exposure to non-professional content can undermine aesthetic standards and spiritual development. He also underlined that legal mechanisms—including appeals to international institutions—can play an important role in protecting national cultural values at the global level.
In his remarks, MP Hikmat Babaoglu highlighted the growing power of information in today’s world, stating that modern society has effectively become an information society. He referred to the international reaction following the tragic killing of infant Zahra on July 4, noting that the rapid dissemination of information in multiple languages by Azerbaijani youth on social media played a crucial role in shaping international awareness and responses, including subsequent changes in official statements by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.
Speaking next, Gulsel Safarovadescribed the initiative as both timely and highly relevant. She emphasized that Azerbaijan’s position on issues such as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and other tragic incidents has been actively communicated through both traditional media and social networks. She also highlighted the growing role of young people, noting that Azerbaijani youth are increasingly engaging with international audiences and expressing their views confidently on global platforms.
The event concluded with remarks by Gunel Ibrahimova, Director of the Ethics Academy, and other participants, followed by an open discussion on the project’s objectives and future activities.
