Azerbaijani official: Opinion of Azerbaijani experts must be taken into consideration while restoring Shusha mosque

“The opinion of the Azerbaijani experts must be taken into consideration, Azerbaijan must be appealed while restoring Azerbaijani mosque in Shusha,” chairman of the State Committee for Religious Associations Hidayat Orujov said while commenting on the statement concerning the restoration of Shusha mosque voiced by Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, who visited Baku to attend the World Summit of the Religious Leaders.

Orujov said in order to prevent the falsification of Azerbaijan’s Shusha mosque, the opinion of the Azerbaijani experts must be taken into consideration.

“I remember that mosque very well. The mosque is purely in the style of Azerbaijani architecture. It must not be distorted,” he said.

Orujov mentioned that Armenians destroyed national, religious monuments in Nagorno Karabakh, in the entire 20% occupied territories, made Gregorian ancient Alban monuments.

“All national and religious monuments from cemeteries, mosques, sepulchers to sanctuaries have been destroyed in the ancient Azerbaijani territories called Armenia today. Of course, the realization of the idea of restoring Shusha mosque by Armenians may be regarded as simply a show, because the president of the country openly speaks about it everywhere. The international organizations have already admitted that Armenians destroyed Azerbaijani monuments. Maybe therefore they want to make a show out of it,” he said.

Hidayat Orujov said despite the vandalism committed by Armenians in Baku, there is an Armenian church in the center of the city.

“I told about it to Karekin II. Azerbaijani people preserved this church even in the hardest times. Book fund of one of the biggest libraries of the city is located there. Everything is neat, one can pray in this church. Karekin II said the mosque was restored in Yerevan, but it was only for the persons coming to Yerevan for temporary work. Karekin was the priest in the church in Baku. He said he could not recognize Baku and wrapped up in his thoughts. This evidently was the influence of the development of Baku, Azerbaijan,” he said.


/APA/