RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF AZERBAIJAN, RUSSIA, GEORGIA AND ARMENIA CALL FOR DIALOGUE

A quadripartite meeting of religious leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia and Armenia dedicated to problems of resolution of conflicts in Caucasus took place in Svato-Danilov cloister, Moscow on November 26.

Before the meeting, patriarchy of Moscow and all Russia Aleksiy II met with head of Caucasian Muslims’ Clerical Office sheikh ul-Islam hajji Allahshukur Pashazadeh and discussed inter-confession issues and situation in the Caucasus region.

Then, religious leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia and Armenia discussed situation in the Caucasus region and Georgia. The parties strongly condemned terrorism and any manifestations of nationalism. “Terrorism may have no religious justification. The states must do their best to stop the extremists, in particular, it is necessary to control weapons and cut short the financial inflow supporting terrorism. They appealed to all peoples of Caucasus to solve the disputable problems by peaceful means, by dialogue, within the international law.”

Socio-political situation in Georgia was the main subject of discussions. The parties were united in their judgment that president Shevardnadze made a right decision and prevented Georgia from bloodshed.

The religious leaders singed a resulting document in which they urge worshippers not to plant the seeds of hate in their hearts. The document says that terrorists, extremists and political radicals try to make use of national and religious differences to justify their motives alien to religion. Religious leaders of Caucasian four urged the politicians to prompt the dialogue aimed at adjustment of discrepancies impeding the firm peace in the Caucasus.

It was decided to conduct the second inter-religious peacemaking forum of CIS countries, religious leaders of these countries are to participate in it.