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Azerbaijan, Vatican strengthen global interfaith ties with new agreement (PHOTO)
@Source: trend.az
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 28. The "Memorandum of
Understanding in the Field of Interreligious Dialogue between the
State Committee on Work with Religious Institutions of Azerbaijan
and the Dicastery of the Holy See for Interreligious Dialogue" was
signed today, a source in the committee told Trend.
The memorandum envisages the exchange of experience and
information, as well as the implementation of joint activities, in
order to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue,
strengthen mutual understanding and tolerance between the
The document also reflects the development of cooperation in the
field of religious education.
Meanwhile, it was signed by Chairman of the State Committee on
Work with Religious Institutions Ramin Mammadov and Prefect of the
Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See Cardinal
George Jacob Koovakad.
Mammadov expressed his confidence that the signed memorandum
will make significant contributions to the promotion of
interreligious harmony and cultural diversity and will play an
important role in promoting these values.
During his speech, the chairman of the committee, who
congratulated Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Holy Jubilee Year,
emphasized that the friendly and cooperative relations between
Azerbaijan and the Holy See have undergone great development.
He pointed out that the cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation and the Vatican is considered one of the best examples
of intercultural dialogue and sensitive attitude to world cultural
heritage in the world.
The goal of successful projects such as the restoration of the
catacombs, cooperation with the Vatican Museum and the Apostolic
Library, and the digitization of archive manuscripts is to
contribute to the common heritage of humanity.
Providing information about the religious environment in
Azerbaijan, the committee chairman noted that the state policy
implemented under the leadership of the President of the Republic
of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, is based on the principles and norms of
international law.
Special attention is paid to strengthening the environment of
mutual respect and understanding between religious confessions in
Azerbaijan.
The official stated that one of the main steps taken after the
liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation is the process of
restoring and reconstructing religious monuments that were
subjected to Armenian vandalism.
He added that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by First
Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, is implementing major projects in
Azerbaijan's liberated territories for this purpose.
Koovvakad expressed his satisfaction with the high-level
cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Vatican, and touched upon
the role of the visits of Pope John Paul II and Francis to the
country in the development of relations with the Vatican.
He assessed this memorandum as a successful result of relations
strengthened by the agreement signed on April 29, 2011, between
Azerbaijan and the Holy See on the Legal Status of the Catholic
Church in Azerbaijan, which is an indicator of respect and honor
for religious minorities in our country.
Koovakad also expressed his confidence that the projects to be
implemented within the framework of the document will play an
important role in promoting interreligious harmony and cultural
He expressed his gratitude to President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev for his support in approving and signing
the memorandum.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to the Holy See
Ilgar Mukhtarov.
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