RELIGION COORDINATING COUNCIL CONSIDERS ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONFLICT’S TACKLING: CAUCASUS MUSLIMS CLERICAL LEADER

Trend
Nov 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Russia, Moscow, 12 November/Trend News, corr. R.Agayev / UNESCO
will give commission to Religion Coordinating Council (RCC) to
consider the current conflicts in the world, like in the Middle
East and others, after specifying of organization issues beginning
from January 2009. The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and ways to
tackle the conflict will likely be considered, Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji
Allahshukur Pashazadeh, the chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office
(CMO), told Trend News in Moscow.

According to Pashazadeh, one of the main objectives of CMO is the
use of every possible forum, including international organizations
in order to inform the world public about the Armenian aggression
against Azerbaijan, destruction of religious and cultural monuments
of the Azerbaijani people in the occupied territories of the country,
numerous acts of vandalism against religious monuments, culture,
architecture and history, not only Muslims but also representatives
of other faiths, including temples and churches, etc.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group (Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

Pashazadeh noted that the target of today’s meeting of representatives
of world religions in Moscow is to make the voice of religious
people and leaders to be heard including from the rostrum of the
UN. "Sometimes religious leaders and activists stay apart of tackling
of political issues, and therefore, the establishment of the Religions
Consulting Council in UN is our common effort," Pashazadeh said.

According to Pashazadeh, the establishment of the CMO also means that
religious leaders will be involved to discuss and solve current urgent
problems, including political issues. "However, the establishment of
such an organization will take time. This issue has been discussed at
meetings with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Therefore, the results
of the Moscow meeting was agreed to take steps within the framework
of UNESCO. We have sent a letter to the leadership of UNESCO, which
expressed a desire to work temporarily with the organization. Since 20
January, we will hold a meeting in Paris with the leadership of UNESCO,
where the aforesaid and other issues will find their final solution,"
Pashazadeh added.

Pashazadeh will represent Azerbaijan and Muslims of the Caucasus in
CMO. This, according to Pashazadeh, is in itself a sign of respect to
Azerbaijan; praise his place and role in the world. "It is a kind of
support of course, which Azerbaijan carries out in the world. We are
very pleased that CMO, in particular Metropolitan Kirill and other
figures, based precisely on those recommendations which were sent to
the Office of Caucasian Muslims," Pashazadeh added.

CMO will actively advise political leaders that they were guided by
correct criteria in resolving various issues and resolving urgent
problems.