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Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 7 2008
Azerbaijani President: There has never been a religious conflict in
Azerbaijan
[ 07 Mar 2008 16:45 ]
Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. Virgin Mary Catholic Church has been
inaugurated in Baku today. President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse
Mehriban Aliyeva also attended the inauguration ceremony.
APA reports that head of the Catholic Church Yan Chapla expressed his
gratitude to Azerbaijani leadership for the religious tolerance in
the country. President Ilham Aliyev called the inauguration of the
church a great and unforgettable event. Underlining that
interreligious relations are on the highest level in Azerbaijan, the
head of state said there had not been a religious conflict in
Azerbaijan.
Mentioning the visit of Pope John Paul II to Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
said this visit played a very important role in the development of
the relations between Azerbaijan and Vatican. He also noted that a
great Catholic Church was built in Baku late in the 19th century and
early in the 20th century, but was destroyed during USSR period.
`Inauguration of the church is both a holiday for Azerbaijani
Catholics and restoration of the historical tradition,' he said.
The President regarded the inauguration of the church as a wonderful
event for Azerbaijan's future and the continuation of high-level
relations with Europe.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone expressed
gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI
and said Azerbaijan had indeed proved to be a tolerant country.
Chairman of Caucasian Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Haji Allahshukur
Pashazadeh also said all religions were respected in Azerbaijan and
took pride in the tolerance in the country.
`Our main wish is to return to Nagorno Karabakh occupied by Armenia,'
he said.
Bishop of Baku Orthodox Church Alexander underlined that all-round
conditions had been created in Azerbaijan for free activity of all
religions.
Speaking on behalf of three Jewish communities living in Azerbaijan,
head of Mountain Jews community Semeon Ikhiilov said there had never
been anti-Semitism in Azerbaijan.
He wished bells of the Catholic Church break the news of Azerbaijani
policy's victory and God help release Nagorno Karabakh.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minster Elmar Mammadyarov, Baku Mayor Hajibala
Abutalibov, Hidayat Orujov, Chairman of the State Committee on
Religious Associations, Vatican's nuncio in the South Caucasus
Klaudio Gucherotti, heads of religious confessions in Azerbaijan,
international organizations and diplomatic missions accredited in
Baku, religious figures of foreign countries and special
representative of Polish President also attended the ceremony.
March 7 2008
Azerbaijani President: There has never been a religious conflict in
Azerbaijan
[ 07 Mar 2008 16:45 ]
Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. Virgin Mary Catholic Church has been
inaugurated in Baku today. President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse
Mehriban Aliyeva also attended the inauguration ceremony.
APA reports that head of the Catholic Church Yan Chapla expressed his
gratitude to Azerbaijani leadership for the religious tolerance in
the country. President Ilham Aliyev called the inauguration of the
church a great and unforgettable event. Underlining that
interreligious relations are on the highest level in Azerbaijan, the
head of state said there had not been a religious conflict in
Azerbaijan.
Mentioning the visit of Pope John Paul II to Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
said this visit played a very important role in the development of
the relations between Azerbaijan and Vatican. He also noted that a
great Catholic Church was built in Baku late in the 19th century and
early in the 20th century, but was destroyed during USSR period.
`Inauguration of the church is both a holiday for Azerbaijani
Catholics and restoration of the historical tradition,' he said.
The President regarded the inauguration of the church as a wonderful
event for Azerbaijan's future and the continuation of high-level
relations with Europe.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone expressed
gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI
and said Azerbaijan had indeed proved to be a tolerant country.
Chairman of Caucasian Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Haji Allahshukur
Pashazadeh also said all religions were respected in Azerbaijan and
took pride in the tolerance in the country.
`Our main wish is to return to Nagorno Karabakh occupied by Armenia,'
he said.
Bishop of Baku Orthodox Church Alexander underlined that all-round
conditions had been created in Azerbaijan for free activity of all
religions.
Speaking on behalf of three Jewish communities living in Azerbaijan,
head of Mountain Jews community Semeon Ikhiilov said there had never
been anti-Semitism in Azerbaijan.
He wished bells of the Catholic Church break the news of Azerbaijani
policy's victory and God help release Nagorno Karabakh.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minster Elmar Mammadyarov, Baku Mayor Hajibala
Abutalibov, Hidayat Orujov, Chairman of the State Committee on
Religious Associations, Vatican's nuncio in the South Caucasus
Klaudio Gucherotti, heads of religious confessions in Azerbaijan,
international organizations and diplomatic missions accredited in
Baku, religious figures of foreign countries and special
representative of Polish President also attended the ceremony.