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AZERBAIJANI RELIGIOUS LEADER CALLS FOR FAIR SOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
AzerNews. Azerbaijan
Dec 2 2013
2 December 2013, 18:59 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova
Head of Caucasus Muslims Office, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur
Pashazadeh, has called on religious figures to continue their efforts
to find a fair solution within the international legal norms for the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"At present, when our country insists on a fair settlement of the
conflict within the international legal norms, we, as religious
figures also continue exerting efforts in this sphere," Pashazadeh
said in an interview with Trend news agency.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijani lands.
He went on to note that the religious figures of the involved countries
have a big responsibility.
"From the very beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, while
realizing this mission, we gathered around a round table," Pashazadeh
said, adding that they had their first meetings in Rostov, and then
in Moscow, and Montreux back in 1988.
Pashazadeh said the meetings, except for the one held in Montreux,
were held with the mediation of the Russian Orthodox Church.
He said the main mission of these meetings was to prevent an ethnic
and territorial conflict from turning into a religious one.
According to Pashazadeh, the reached agreements, and the signed
documents prove that the mission was accomplished.
"We serve to building a confidence between the two nations by our
agreements on mutual protection of religious and spiritual monuments,
returning of captives, withdrawing of snipers from the contact line,
and other issues," he said.
"That's why in 2010, we met with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin
II as part of the Baku summit with mediation of Patriarch of Moscow
and All Russia Kirill," Pashazadeh said. "Another meeting was held
on the sidelines of the presidium of the CIS Inter-Religious Council
meeting in Yerevan."
Through these negotiations, the sides intended to assist in reaching
a peaceful solution for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Pashazadeh noted if these negotiations and meetings can even slightly
influence on this process, the sides must continue to hold them.
Pashazadeh went on to say that his meeting with an Armenian captive
kept in Azerbaijan upon the request of the Catholicos of all Armenians
was aimed to demonstrate the conscientious adherence to the spirit
of joint statements.
"Karabakh is our historical territory. We must continue exerting
efforts until our lands are liberated. This is our duty to God,
the Motherland and people," Pashazadeh said.
Referring to destruction of the cultural, religious and historical
monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Pashazadeh said the
topic was repeatedly discussed during the meetings with the religious
leader of the Armenians.
"What happened cannot be turned back, and our goal now is to prevent
such incidents and in particular, to reconstruct all cultural,
religious, and historical monuments after the end of the occupation,"
he said.
Pashazadeh also said this issue is clearly indicated in each joint
statement, and the demonstration of the Armenian side's will is
required.
"We raise the issue at all events in which we are involved. From the
very significant platforms, we are trying to direct the opinion of
the international community to prevent such cases," he said.
Pashazadeh said Islamic countries always express their support and
these monuments are common Islamic monuments.
"The appropriate measures are being taken through the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and ISESCO and significant assistance
is being rendered," he said.
OIC member states expressed concern over the occupation of Azerbaijani
territories and looting and destruction of the archeological, cultural
and religious monuments in those areas, including Islamic monuments
in the resolution adopted by the organization during the OIC summit
in Dakar, Senegal in 2008.
Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million
Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent
of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.
The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's
withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been
enforced to this day.
Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the US have produced no
results so far.
AzerNews. Azerbaijan
Dec 2 2013
2 December 2013, 18:59 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova
Head of Caucasus Muslims Office, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur
Pashazadeh, has called on religious figures to continue their efforts
to find a fair solution within the international legal norms for the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"At present, when our country insists on a fair settlement of the
conflict within the international legal norms, we, as religious
figures also continue exerting efforts in this sphere," Pashazadeh
said in an interview with Trend news agency.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijani lands.
He went on to note that the religious figures of the involved countries
have a big responsibility.
"From the very beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, while
realizing this mission, we gathered around a round table," Pashazadeh
said, adding that they had their first meetings in Rostov, and then
in Moscow, and Montreux back in 1988.
Pashazadeh said the meetings, except for the one held in Montreux,
were held with the mediation of the Russian Orthodox Church.
He said the main mission of these meetings was to prevent an ethnic
and territorial conflict from turning into a religious one.
According to Pashazadeh, the reached agreements, and the signed
documents prove that the mission was accomplished.
"We serve to building a confidence between the two nations by our
agreements on mutual protection of religious and spiritual monuments,
returning of captives, withdrawing of snipers from the contact line,
and other issues," he said.
"That's why in 2010, we met with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin
II as part of the Baku summit with mediation of Patriarch of Moscow
and All Russia Kirill," Pashazadeh said. "Another meeting was held
on the sidelines of the presidium of the CIS Inter-Religious Council
meeting in Yerevan."
Through these negotiations, the sides intended to assist in reaching
a peaceful solution for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Pashazadeh noted if these negotiations and meetings can even slightly
influence on this process, the sides must continue to hold them.
Pashazadeh went on to say that his meeting with an Armenian captive
kept in Azerbaijan upon the request of the Catholicos of all Armenians
was aimed to demonstrate the conscientious adherence to the spirit
of joint statements.
"Karabakh is our historical territory. We must continue exerting
efforts until our lands are liberated. This is our duty to God,
the Motherland and people," Pashazadeh said.
Referring to destruction of the cultural, religious and historical
monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Pashazadeh said the
topic was repeatedly discussed during the meetings with the religious
leader of the Armenians.
"What happened cannot be turned back, and our goal now is to prevent
such incidents and in particular, to reconstruct all cultural,
religious, and historical monuments after the end of the occupation,"
he said.
Pashazadeh also said this issue is clearly indicated in each joint
statement, and the demonstration of the Armenian side's will is
required.
"We raise the issue at all events in which we are involved. From the
very significant platforms, we are trying to direct the opinion of
the international community to prevent such cases," he said.
Pashazadeh said Islamic countries always express their support and
these monuments are common Islamic monuments.
"The appropriate measures are being taken through the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and ISESCO and significant assistance
is being rendered," he said.
OIC member states expressed concern over the occupation of Azerbaijani
territories and looting and destruction of the archeological, cultural
and religious monuments in those areas, including Islamic monuments
in the resolution adopted by the organization during the OIC summit
in Dakar, Senegal in 2008.
Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million
Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent
of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.
The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's
withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been
enforced to this day.
Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the US have produced no
results so far.