TODAY.AZ / Politics

Moscow hosts meeting of Azerbaijani, Armenian religious leaders

23 November 2016 [15:38] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Gunay Hasanova

Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade met with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in Moscow.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Caucasian Muslims Office told Trend on November 23.

Pashazade and Karekin II expressed intention to continue such meetings through intermediaries.

During his Moscow visit, Pashazade earlier met with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and expressed his gratitude to Russian Orthodox Church for its efforts on the peaceful solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In turn, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia said that thanks to the joint efforts of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Caucasian Muslims Board - the highest spiritual and administrative authority of Muslim countries in the Trans-Caucasian region, we could prevent the radicalization of the conflict and to make sure that it “didn’t inflict serious wounds on the body of people who live there and suffer.”

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/156246.html

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