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AZERBAIJAN WANTS DIALOGUE: ARCHBISHOP AYKAZIAN
Tert.am
18:22 07.05.10
In April 26, His Holiness Karekin II and Catholicos of All Armenians
traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, to participate in the World Summit of
Religious Leaders. His Holiness attended the summit at the invitation
of his co-chairs Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,
and Sheikh ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Hummat Pashazade, Grand Mufti
of Azerbaijan.
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese in
Washington, also took part in the summit in his capacity as the past
president of the National Council of Churches in the U.S. On April 29,
The Armenian Reporter had an interview with Archbishop Aykazian which
is partially presented below.
Q. There were reports just a couple of weeks before the conference
which quoted Sheikh-ul-Islam as expressing doubt that Catholicos
would be coming.
A. There was some doubt that the trip would take place, unless a joint
statement from the Russian Patriarch, Catholicos and Sheikh-ul-Islam
could be agreed on in advance. Catholicos wanted to have a balanced
statement before he went to Baku. And when that was ready, the trip
Q. What would you say is the significance of this trip?
A. Everyone felt it was a very historic event. We hope that it will
diffuse tensions at least a little bit. I don't know how effective
it is going to be. But at least we have shown that we are ready to
talk and Catholicos has invited Sheikh-ul-Islam to come to Yerevan
and he accepted.
Q. The image of the Armenian Church - anything Armenian really - in
Azerbaijan has been very negative in how it has been presented over
the years by state officials and media. There are also the frequent
threats made by Azerbaijan of going to war with Armenia. How did that
reconcile with the invitation for Catholicos to visit?
A. Religious leaders came together because we believe that we can play
a very positive role in helping achieve a peaceful solution of the
Karabakh conflict. The religious leaders may not have the political
power but they can influence those in power.
It is important to note that already in 1993 through the World Council
of Churches mediation, Sheikh-ul-Islam together with Catholicos Vazgen
I issued a statement that noted that Karabakh was not a religious
conflict. And the Baku communique reiterated that.
Q. But Azerbaijan has actively sought support for its position within
the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and has been backed by
majority of OIC members at the United Nations.
A. That is true. But at the same time, Islamic groups or organization
have never described the conflict as religious. Even Azerbaijani
religious leaders have not issued calls for jihad. There have
been statements that such a call could be issued, but it has not
materialized and I doubt that it will.
Q. What is your sense of the role of Sheikh-ul-Islam Pashazade in
Azerbaijan today?
A. It is hard to say. But I think he is respected and my impression
is that he is a good man. I was impressed by his simplicity. He
was very cordial and polite with Catholicos, leaving more than 100
guests at the conference to accompany Catholicos to the airport. So
the impression was of a humble, simple person.
And of course the fact that he accepted the invitation to come to
Armenia means that the dialogue would continue.
Q. There has been some criticism in Armenia that Catholicos agreed
to go to a country whose government continues to target Armenian
religious heritage sites, with the recent destruction of the medieval
cemetery of Old Jugha perhaps the most prominent example. Were those
issues raised in Baku?
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Tert.am
18:22 07.05.10
In April 26, His Holiness Karekin II and Catholicos of All Armenians
traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, to participate in the World Summit of
Religious Leaders. His Holiness attended the summit at the invitation
of his co-chairs Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,
and Sheikh ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Hummat Pashazade, Grand Mufti
of Azerbaijan.
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese in
Washington, also took part in the summit in his capacity as the past
president of the National Council of Churches in the U.S. On April 29,
The Armenian Reporter had an interview with Archbishop Aykazian which
is partially presented below.
Q. There were reports just a couple of weeks before the conference
which quoted Sheikh-ul-Islam as expressing doubt that Catholicos
would be coming.
A. There was some doubt that the trip would take place, unless a joint
statement from the Russian Patriarch, Catholicos and Sheikh-ul-Islam
could be agreed on in advance. Catholicos wanted to have a balanced
statement before he went to Baku. And when that was ready, the trip
Q. What would you say is the significance of this trip?
A. Everyone felt it was a very historic event. We hope that it will
diffuse tensions at least a little bit. I don't know how effective
it is going to be. But at least we have shown that we are ready to
talk and Catholicos has invited Sheikh-ul-Islam to come to Yerevan
and he accepted.
Q. The image of the Armenian Church - anything Armenian really - in
Azerbaijan has been very negative in how it has been presented over
the years by state officials and media. There are also the frequent
threats made by Azerbaijan of going to war with Armenia. How did that
reconcile with the invitation for Catholicos to visit?
A. Religious leaders came together because we believe that we can play
a very positive role in helping achieve a peaceful solution of the
Karabakh conflict. The religious leaders may not have the political
power but they can influence those in power.
It is important to note that already in 1993 through the World Council
of Churches mediation, Sheikh-ul-Islam together with Catholicos Vazgen
I issued a statement that noted that Karabakh was not a religious
conflict. And the Baku communique reiterated that.
Q. But Azerbaijan has actively sought support for its position within
the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and has been backed by
majority of OIC members at the United Nations.
A. That is true. But at the same time, Islamic groups or organization
have never described the conflict as religious. Even Azerbaijani
religious leaders have not issued calls for jihad. There have
been statements that such a call could be issued, but it has not
materialized and I doubt that it will.
Q. What is your sense of the role of Sheikh-ul-Islam Pashazade in
Azerbaijan today?
A. It is hard to say. But I think he is respected and my impression
is that he is a good man. I was impressed by his simplicity. He
was very cordial and polite with Catholicos, leaving more than 100
guests at the conference to accompany Catholicos to the airport. So
the impression was of a humble, simple person.
And of course the fact that he accepted the invitation to come to
Armenia means that the dialogue would continue.
Q. There has been some criticism in Armenia that Catholicos agreed
to go to a country whose government continues to target Armenian
religious heritage sites, with the recent destruction of the medieval
cemetery of Old Jugha perhaps the most prominent example. Were those
issues raised in Baku?
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress