Baku, October 9 AZERTAC

The “Lead Pakistan” newspaper has published an article about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the visit of Pope Francis to Azerbaijan.

Written by Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan the article says: “Azerbaijan-Armenia “Nagorno-Karabakh conflict” is a time bomb which has to be defused as soon as possible for the greater regional peace and harmony. It is a gigantic human misery where Azeri people, the real owner of the land were dispossessed from the lands, homes and collaterals by using brutal force. It is the unsettled dispute in the region. It is indeed a flash point in the CIS and Caucasus regions.

Pope Francis the icon of love, compassion and angle of peace just completed his visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan and stressed the need to resolve the “Nagorno-Karabakh conflict” with the help of international community as soon as possible. During his visit to Azerbaijan he met with H.E. President Ilham Aliyev and other high officials of the government and pledged his support to resolve the said unresolved issue as soon as possible. He also met with so many social organizations and diplomatic corps to discuss the said issue of great importance for Azerbaijan. He expressed his gratitude to those who have had to leave their land and confronted human miseries. Pope Francis said hoped that the international community is able “to offer unfailingly its indispensable help” to resolve the conflict. He invited everyone to play a positive role to achieve a stable and peaceful region.

“I am confident that, with the help of God, and the good will of those involved, the Caucasus will be a place where, through dialogue and negotiation, disputes and differences will be resolved and overcome,” Pope Francis said.

“He hoped that Azerbaijan the “gateway between East and West” will also be a gateway open to the peace and resolve. Pope Francis regretted that the world is experiencing the tragedy of many conflicts fueled by intolerance, which, in turn, are provoked by violent ideologies and actual denial of the rights of the weakest. Azerbaijan is the prime example of tolerance in the world where everybody is free to perform its religious rituals. Azerbaijan is the ideal country for minorities in which their basic rights are protected.

Pope stressed the need to effectively oppose dangerous deviations by promoting the culture of peace by pursing untiring willingness for dialogue/conflict resolution. He voiced for a shared solution by means of committed and sustained negotiations. He outlined the path of genuine progress and freedom of people by securing and promoting harmony between different sectors within the country as well as between states. It is the only doable way to safe people from grave suffering and painful wounds, Pope Francis added.

H.E. President Ilham Aliyev termed Pope Francis’s visit to Azerbaijan a historic event. He rightly projected Azerbaijan a modern secular, developing country open for cooperation”. “Azerbaijan is a native land of all peoples living in our country. Azerbaijan stands strong he added. While meeting with Pope Francis said “We enjoy great respect on the international arena. Several years ago, 155 countries voted for Azerbaijan and chose it a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council”. “You sent a clear message of multiculturalism, interreligious dialogue, good will and good attitude of Baku which should gain victory and prevail,” President Aliyev said to Pope Francis.

“Today, your followers, your supporters on all continents look at Baku, become familiar with our city and our country. They see that there is a modern, secular and developing country in the world, in the Muslim world,” said the president. “They see that the head of the world’s Catholics Francis is in Baku. Therefore, I would like to express gratitude to you on behalf of the whole Azerbaijani people. I wish you robust health and new success.”

The article also says: ““Nagorno-Karabakh conflict” is an integral part of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is pursuing all peaceful means to reach a resolution for a sustained peaceful region. Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict is anti-development and anti-human which must be resolved as soon as possible. An early resolution of this conflict would bring multiplier socio-economic, geo-political and geo-strategic effects for both the countries.

Early resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a holy cause and recently concluded visit of Pope Francis’s brought holy support. Pope highlighted Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict and emphasized a peaceful outcome. He preferred a shared solution through meaningful negotiations and dialogue to resolve the unsettled conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh. He stressed international community to come forward to resolve the issue and let people live peacefully and harmoniously.”