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Baku: Azerbaijani Religious Leader Prepared To Discuss Release Of Mi

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  • Baku: Azerbaijani Religious Leader Prepared To Discuss Release Of Mi

    AZERBAIJANI RELIGIOUS LEADER PREPARED TO DISCUSS RELEASE OF MILITARY CAPTIVES WITH ARMENIA

    Trend
    01.07.09 16:07

    Astana can be ground for dialogue not only for resolution of the
    Arab-Israel conflict, but also Nagorno-Karabakh problem, Chairman
    of the Caucasus Muslims Clerical Office Sheik-ul-Islam Allahshukur
    Pashazade said in his interview with Trend News correspondent in
    Astana.

    TrendNews: Mr. Sheik-ul-Islam, Israeli president Shimon Peres said in
    his speech today that Astana can be ground for all who are interested
    in resolution of the Arab-Israel conflict. How do you assess this
    proposal?

    Allahshukur Pashazade: It is not the first time that Kazakhstan
    becomes international scene to deal with such conflicts. We
    know that Kazakhstan has been actively involved in resolving the
    Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Your [Kazakh] President Nursultan Nazarbayev
    enjoys well-deserved respect, especially in the Turkic world. We
    consider him our elder. He has warm friendship with President Ilham
    Aliyev. This friendship originates from his father Heydar Aliyev. We
    would like the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be discussed here along
    with the Arab-Israeli conflict. We would be very grateful to your
    country for this.

    Q: Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger proposed today at the
    conference that to permit religious persons of the religion to which
    the prisoners of war belong in conflict zones and provide information
    about the prisoners of war to their relatives. What is your view on
    rabbi's proposal?

    A: We support this idea of a Jewish rabbi to provide clergy of
    various faiths with an access to conflict zone to check prisoners of
    the same faith. I have discussed the matter with the former head of
    the Armenian Apostolic Church Patriarch Vazgen and the new patriarch
    several times. There was even a case when two captives were released
    from Azerbaijan. But unfortunately, Armenia did not make a response
    step. If we promise something, we keep it. And would like to see
    another side to fulfill its promises. I am ready to once again discuss
    this issue with Armenia.

    Q: How do you assess state of tolerance in Azerbaijan?

    A: Azerbaijan is very tolerant country like Kazakhstan. We all live in
    friendship and harmony. When roof of the church leaks, they call us. We
    always come to the rescue when something happens in a mosque, we have
    come to the aid of a synagogue and a church ... You can see Sunnis
    and Shiites worship together in Azerbaijan and Jews can easily enter
    into a Muslim mosque. Our nation takes all, in spite of the religious
    preferences and differences. There is a very large Jewish and Russian
    diaspora in Azerbaijan. No one oppresses anybody in our country.
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