AZERBAIJAN’S SPIRITUAL LEADER WANTS MORE CONTACT WITH ARMENIA
news.az
April 26 2010
Azerbaijan
Allahshukur Pashazade The head of the Caucasus Muslims Department has
called on religious leaders to unite against terrorism and separatism.
‘Religious leaders must always take a united stance against extremist,
radical and separatist forces that oppose the territorial integrity
and security of states,’ Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade
told a Baku summit on inter-religious dialogue on Monday.
‘The violation of human rights, spread of drugs and other psychotropic
substances, control over space, nuclear terrorism, the use of weapons
of mass destruction cause us serious concern. We religious leaders
approve the superpowers’ action towards nuclear disarmament and we
think that if today religious leaders do not use their influence,
scientists their practical knowledge and the heads of state progressive
cooperation in fighting these disasters, tomorrow they will have to
bear responsibility before history and humanity,’ Pashazade said.
According to the sheikh, no religion justifies terrorism, violence
and aggression. ‘Acts of terror in different corners of our planet
in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and our Caucasus region, and their
transformation into a global phenomenon also causes concern,’
Pashazade said.
‘Those who use religious slogans for the death of civilians, terrorism
and vandalism, commit the biggest sin before our God. They should
not forget that world religions view an attempt on human life as an
attempt against the whole of humanity,’ he said.
Speaking of regional matters, Pashazade said that Azerbaijan spared no
effort for the peaceful resolution of the conflict with Armenia. At the
same time, he recalled the mediation of the Russian Orthodox Church,
Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate and the World Council of Churches
in organizing dialogue between the religious leaders of Azerbaijan
and Armenia.
‘Though our meetings had definite constructive results, there is
already a need for new action and new negotiations in this direction.
On the other hand, we are ready for this, because the world is a
gift of God and every step made for its sake is positive. I view the
participation of His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch, all-Armenian
Catholicos Garegin ll, in our summit, who accepted our invitation
despite the difficulties, as a significant step on the path to peace
and I invite him to more active relations in this direction, to the
restoration of both direct and indirect contacts. I think the current
problems of both Karabakh and all conflict regions in the Caucasus can
be settled through a just peace within the framework of territorial
integrity and mutual understanding in line with the principles of
international law,’ Pashazade said.