“The State Committee on Religious Affairs of Azerbaijan is going to improve the relationships between the state and religious bodies,” Rafig Aliyev, the chairman of the State Committee, told a news conference on Thursday.
With this regard there was established a Council of Religious Experts, which includes 15 experts on theology and divinity scientists. The activities of the Council will be directed at 4 major spheres: establishment of a system from �break-up to organization’ in the religious enlightenment, attraction of different religious communities to the resolution of social problems, assistance in the formation of constructive cooperation and tolerance between the religions and religions confessions and conduct of monitoring in media.
The key accent was put on the monitoring of media. Aliyev noted that the Azerbaijani media publishes materials, which in the end result in resistance among the religions. “The publications serve to religious destabilization in the country,” he added.
Other directions of the Council’s activities include assistance to improvement of the database of the State Committee, analysis of program on religious enlightenment, the development of a Concept on State-Religion. The Council�s activities will be under the control of the State Committee, he underlined.
