AZERBAIJAN: Heads of Churches meet in Azerbaijan and condemn violence

Record ID: 217943

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: Heads of Churches meet in Azerbaijan and condemn violence
  • Date: 27th April 2010
  • Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (APRIL 26, 2010) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CONGRESS HALL FLAGS OUTSIDE CONGRESS HALL AZERI PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS TAKING SEATS AT START OF SUMMIT VARIOUS OF MEETING IN PROGRESS RELIGIOUS LEADER OF AZERBAIJAN, SHEIKH-AL-ISLAM HAJI ALLAHSHUKUR PASHAZADEH SPEAKING VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS LISTENING CATHOLICOS OF ALL
  • Embargoed: 12th May 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA63TD2IS079TZU8ZP5YF6LC9RE
  • Story Text: Heads of Churches from Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan met in the Azerbaijani capital on Monday (April 26) in an attempt to settle problems in the Caucasus.
    It is the first time this has occurred since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
    Head of the Church of Azerbaijan, Sheikh-al-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Patriarch of Moscow and of all Russia Kyrill, and Catholicos of all Armenians Qaregin the Second met in Baku at the World Religious Leaders Summit.
    The meeting was opened by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
    Speaking at the summit, leader of Azeri Muslims Allahshukur Pasha-zade said that heads of churches should unite in struggle against terrorism and separatism. He stressed that religious leaders should always undertake united efforts against extremists, radicals and separatists who were threatening the territorial integrity and security of countries, and that no religion justified violence and aggression.
    A joint declaration focussed on co-existence and negotiation.
    "We are looking forward to promote the development of the principles of co-existence of our peoples and elaboration of mutual decisions with the help of negotiations and satisfying all sides. We have to note that the tradition of such meetings promoted the ending of armed phase of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict growing from the Karabakh problem. These meetings prevented turning the conflict into the religious conflict," the declaration stated.
    Speaking to journalists Patriarch Kyrill said the declaration was a successful sign, and proof of the importance of such meetings and mutual efforts.
    "Religious leaders don't have political power, they cannot move the troops, they cannot use state force, but they have a specific opportunity to appeal to those values and to those ideals which are very important for believers," he said.
    The Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia the Second was expected to attend the summit but was unable to travel to Baku as he was being treated at a medical centre in the Czech Republic, his press office reported.
    Bishop Gerasim was reportedly representing Georgia at the summit.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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