Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Nov 19 2004

POPE OF ROME JOHN PAUL II: `I PRAY FOR PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AND THE
PEOPLE OF AZERBAIJAN'
[November 19, 2004, 20:59:18]

Head of the Vatican State said this in his residence when he received
religious leaders from Azerbaijan - head of the Caucasus Moslems
Clerical Office Sheik-Ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Bishop
Alexander of Baku in the region of the Caspian Sea, part of the
Russian Orthodox Church and head of the Jewish Comminute of the
Mountain Semyon Ikhiilov, on 18 November.

The Pope of Rome has expressed regret for continuation of conflicts
in the Caucasus, AzerTAj reported, referring to the website of
Vatican. He said: `No one has the right to present or use religions
as instruments of intolerance, as means of aggression, violence or
death. On the contrary, the friendship and reciprocal esteem among
different religions is a rich resource of authentic progress and
peace'.

Pope of Rome John Paul II, on behalf of the meeting participants,
called for an end to violence causing fratricide and set out on the
path of love and justice.

Noting that he prays for President Ilham Aliyev and the entire people
of Azerbaijan, the Pope has said: `I hope with all my heart that
peace returns to Azerbaijan, and the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh is
resolved soon. This challenge, as well as others, should be addressed
with good will and a true spirit of reconciliation'.