Sheikh-ul-Islam received CEO of the US-based Stirling Foundation

28.07.2021
On July 28, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims’ Board, His-Virtue  Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh received CEO of the US-based Stirling Foundation Mr. Edward Rowe. Welcoming the Guest, Chairman of the CMB mentioned  that  Azerbaijan, being a place of different civilizations, has historically been a state where different nations and religions live in peace and mutual understanding. Multiculturalism and tolerance have become a part of the daily life of every citizen, regardless of religious or national identity. Noting the high level of relations between religion and state in Azerbaijan, Chairman of CMB  highlighted that this policy, founded by national leader Heydar Aliyev, is being successfully pursued by President  Ilham Aliyev.
Sheikh-ul-Islam briefed the Guest on the Summit of World Religious Leaders, Intrernational Forums on Intercultural and Interreligious dialogue, and the important messages conveyed to the world at these meetings in recent years. He stressed that the Baku Process, aimed at establishing an effective dialogue between cultures and civilizations, and praised the attention and care of First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for such large-scale events.
His Virtue  Sheikh-ul-Islam said that Azerbaijan has entered a new stage in its history as a victorious country, after the liberation of our territories from Armenian occupation by the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the power of our glorious army. Allahshukur Pashazadeh emphasized  that many mosques, shrines and cemeteries in our cities and villages, which have been under occupation of Armenian armed forces for almost 30 years, have been savagely destroyed, and many civilians were killed, and , the environment was seriously damaged. 
Informing the guest about his visit to the liberated cities of Agdam and Shusha together with the leaders of different religious communities in Azerbaijan, he said that after many years, religious rites were performed in mosques and churches in both of the cities, and joint prayers were offered for long-lasting peace and stability in the region and the entire world. Noting that large-scale construction work has begun in the liberated territories under attention and care of President Ilham Aliyev, Allahshukur Pashazadeh said that Azerbaijan has always been a peaceful state, attaching special importance to the international friendship and cooperation.  
Allahshukur Pashazadeh informed the Guest about the Baku International Center for Interfaith and Inter-Civilizational Cooperation BCIC which operates under the CMB and a number of international interreligious conferences which have been held in Germany, Austria, Spain, Turkey and other countries. He said that CMB and BCIC are interested in establishing closer ties with the US Stirling Foundation.
Mr. Edward Rowe, CEO of the Stirling Foundation, thanked for the warm welcome and noted that Sheikh-ul-Islam has made an important contribution to maintaining peace not only in the Caucasus, but also in the entire world. Mr. Rowe said that he was well acquainted with the commitment of the Azerbaijani people to multicultural values and the pain they experienced during the occupation of their territory. The American Guest informed His Virtue that he have been to Baku 20 years ago and due to his business duties lived here for some period of time, in the neighborhood with the Azerbaijani refugee families from Karabakh. Noting that our country has undergone a great development over the past years, Mr. Rowe wished our people a long-lasting peace and stability.
Talking about the visit of a delegation of the Azerbaijani religious communities to Utah in March 2020 at the invitation of the Stirling Foundation, Mr. Rowe reminded their meetings with officials, religious figures and civil society activists. He said that religious figures and influential scientists from Utah are scheduled to visit Azerbaijan in November this year. He also invited Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh to visit the United States stressing his interest in strengthening relations with the religious center of CMB.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Copy right

Read : 4950