AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA AND RUSSIA’S RELIGIOUS LEADERS SIGN DECLARATION AS A RESULT OF MEETING
Trend
April 26 2010
Azerbaijan
Religious leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia signed a
declaration on the basis of a trilateral meeting in Baku.
"I think that it is correct and timely initiative of the trilateral
meeting, which was held and crowned with success of signing of a
joint declaration," Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill said
to journalists after signing ceremony.
According to him, religious leaders have no political power and
can not "guide the troops". "But they have a special opportunity to
appeal to those values that are very close to believers. And the fact
that representatives of different religions met and agreed on many
important issues is an important signal to all believers"- Kirill said.
The Patriarch expressed the hope that these signals will contribute
to reconciliation, reduce tension in the region and create a good
atmosphere for political leaders in order to come to an agreed
outcome taking full responsibility for the political settlement of
the conflict.
Head of the Caucasus Moslems Clerical Office Sheikulislam Haji
Allahshukur Pashazade, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill met within participation
in the World Summit of world religious leaders, which is underway in
these days in Baku.
"Today we consider following spiritual guidelines of cooperation
especially important to overcome the estrangement between our nations.
The potential of religion, calling for goodness, peace, compassion,
patience must be a reconciling force," the declaration says.
"We believe that our joint efforts will help to overcome international
hostility. We hope we will be able to support the people’s hopes
to overcome the current divisions, barriers and hostility with
peacekeeping efforts, because the war will have no end".
The document says that the religious leaders of the three countries
support international efforts to resolve the conflict and stress the
need for expansion of communication in order to strengthen confidence
to achieve peace and good neighborliness.
"Supporting the efforts of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents, we
intend to contribute to their aspirations; therefore we consider
it important to continue the dialogue between religious leaders
in order to help resolve the conflict, which will enable people to
return to the places, from where they were expelled. We welcome the
acts of goodwill of the sides – the release of prisoners, and call
on both political and religious leaders to intensify their efforts
in this noble and humane process, we condemn the acts of vandalism
and consider it important to preserve religious monuments and sacred
places of our peoples," the document says.
"The path to peace is not easy, but we have a fervent hope of success,
and, uniting our efforts, we hope to overcome the estrangement and
prejudice. Let the blessed land of the Caucasus has a lasting and
just peace, and our people will inherit the welfare and prosperity,"
said in the document.
From: Baghdasarian