SPEAKER OF MILLI MAJLIS MEETS STATE SECRETARY OF VATICAN

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 23 2006

Speaker of Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan Republic (Azerbaijan
Parliament) met with the State Secretary of Vatican for Relations
with States archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, 22 May.

Speaker of Azerbaijan said Vatican is one of the first states, which
have recognized independence of Azerbaijan. ‘We are interested in
development of communications with this European country. Azerbaijan
by the geopolitical position historically was a place of coexistence
of religions, cultures. Here always dominated tolerance, respect to
representatives of various religions. The first Catholic communities
in Azerbaijan have appeared in the middle of XIX century. And in
beginning of 20th century in Baku has been constructed the first
Catholic Church. The Catholics have all rights and freedoms, given to
citizens of Azerbaijan by the Constitution. The negotiations lead by
the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham
Aliyev during meetings with heads of the State of Vatican, have created
favorable circumstances for development of our communications. We very
highly estimate mutual visits from the point of view of expansion of
our relations’, the Speaker stressed.

Chairman of Milli Majlis has informed, that during visit of the Pope
of Rome John Paul II to Azerbaijan in May 2002 has been consecrated
a stone to be in the base of the Baku Catholic temple, also held a
number of meetings with figures of religion, science and culture. And
official visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Vatican
in February 2005 has given a new impulse to development of cooperation
between two countries.

Then, Ogtay Asadov has in detail told about the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has stopped on the decisions accepted by the
authoritative international organizations and the resolutions connected
with the given problem, disclosed fair position of Azerbaijan which
is based on international law. The State of Vatican always condemned
all forms of terror, he noted.

Chairman of Milli Majlis has expressed confidence that the State of
Vatican will condemn the Armenian terror and take a fair position in
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Giovanni Lajolo has expressed gratitude for warm reception and
detailed information. ‘We are satisfied with the level of friendly
communications between Azerbaijan and Vatican’, he underlined.

‘Azerbaijan really is a place of merge of religions and cultures. We
highly estimate tolerance existing here. And we are very glad
with intensive development of Azerbaijan. Vatican is interested in
expansion of relations with Azerbaijan, and the purpose of my visit to
Baku consists in carrying out of exchange by opinions on the further
development of our ties.

At the meeting, also took place wide exchange of opinions on other
questions representing mutual interest.