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Complete Text of Joint Declaration Issued by Three Religious Leaders of the
Caucasus
(Baku, April 26, 2010)
Joint Declaration
In the name of Almighty God, and for the fulfillment of the cherished dreams
of peace, welfare and happiness of our peoples, we, the spiritual leaders of
the Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples, met in Baku through the high mediation
of His Holiness Kirill I, Pontiff of the Russian Orthodox Church, to testify
to our mutual respect and discuss urgent measures necessary to secure a true
peace and an agreement for our peoples and governments.
Viewing this meeting as part of the peace-making dialogue between the
Armenian Apostolic Church and the Committee of the Muslims of the Caucasus,
begun through the mediation of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988, and
faithful to the spirit of previous communiqués, we are hopeful that in the
future as well, we can assist the progress of the principles of peaceful
coexistence for our peoples and the cultivation of mutually acceptable
decisions, exclusively through the path of dialogue. It is pleasing to
witness that meetings of similar formats have significantly contributed to
the cessation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani armed conflict founded on the
issue of Karabagh. Undoubtedly, these meetings have helped to prevent the
conflict from taking on an inter-religious nature.
Today especially, we place importance on the adherence to the spiritual
aspects of collaboration, to overcome the present alienation between our
peoples. The power of religion, which is a calling to goodness, peace,
sympathy and patience, shall become a factor of reconciliation. We believe
that our common efforts will benefit the defeat of inter-ethnic enmity. It
is fundamentally essential to not permit the resumption of military options
as a means to solve the disputed issues. Through our peace-making efforts,
we must support men in their hope to eliminate divisions, barriers and
hostility, since war – if it continues – has no end.
We support international efforts aimed at resolving the conflict. To attain
peace and good neighborly relations, it is necessary to expand lines of
communication, with the goal of reinforcing trust. A lasting peace is
possible only in the presence of good will and honest intentions. By
supporting the efforts of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, we
intend to assist them in their aspirations. In this regard, we consider the
continuation of direct dialogue between the religious leaders important,
with the goal of benefiting the resolution of the conflict, which will
provide the opportunity for people to return to those places from where they
were driven out by war. We welcome the good will on both sides to release
prisoners of war, and call upon political as well as religious workers to
increase their efforts in this noble and humanitarian work. Each of us must
demonstrate that good works, service to kindheartedness, and dedication to
peace and justice, can achieve far more than military conflict. We condemn
acts of vandalism and deem important the preservation of our peoples’
religious monuments and holy sites.
The path to reach peace and consensus is not an easy one – it requires great
efforts and a mighty will. However we have sincere hopes to attain success,
and by joining efforts, we hope to triumph over alienation and prejudices.
The
responsibility and the debt we have before the Most High and before our
peoples, impels us, religious leaders, to implement efforts for the sake of
peace, the long-awaited triumph of the ideals of goodness and the just
resolution of present issues. May a strong and just peace be established on
the bountiful land of the Caucasus, and may our peoples inherit goodness and
prosperity.
/signed/
Sheikh ul-Islam
Allahshukur Pashazade
Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Committee
Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
Kirill I
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia