ARMENIAN NA SPEAKER MEETS WITH SYRIAN MUFTI
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 4 2006
YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Tigran Torosyan has held a meeting with Mufti of Syria, Sheik Ahmad
Badr Al-Dina Hassun. During the meeting, Speaker Torosyan pointed
out the importance of the Mufti’s visit to Armenia now that "the
neighboring state’s spiritual leader threatens Armenia with jihad."
"Religions cannot be a factor of estranging peoples. There are
high values uniting people and allowing them to meet challenges,"
Torosyan said.
In his turn, Sheik Hassun, commenting the statements on jihad made
by the Leader of the Caucasian Muslims, said that jihad means life,
but not war and murders. Jihad unites people round good ideas,
and spiritual leaders’ task must be helping political leaders in
establishing peace and prosperity, he said.
In this context, Speaker Torosyan stressed that just as jihad can have
different interpretations inside one and the same religion, the term
"democracy" an be interpreted in different ways. "This is defined as
a form of government giving people prosperity and protection. But
there are individuals and groups making use of democracy for war,
though good is not imposed by means of war," Torosyan said.
The sides pointed out the importance of retaining national identity
by resisting globalization challenges.
Torosyan thanked Syria for caring about the Armenians that survived
the 1915 Genocide and become Syrian citizens enjoying full rights. He
also stressed that he is closely watching the events in the Near
East. Torosyan said that he is concerned over the fate of not only
his compatriots, but also friendly people.
The leader of the Caucasian Muslims Allahshukyur Pashazade recently
stated his readiness to declare jihad for liberating "Azerbaijan’s
occupied territories" when time comes.