Sheik-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, stated at roundtable Azerbaijan Model of Tolerance, in Baku on 16 November 2006 that the realization of tolerance in Azerbaijan on the level of state government assures its durability, Trend reports, the roundtable was dedicated to the International Day of Tolerance.
Pashazade said that tolerance is a reality of Azerbaijan, which has ancient historical roots and traditions. The State is the guarantee of the freedom of religion. Along with mosques the churches and synagogues are also rehabilitated in Azerbaijan. As a result right religious policy Azerbaijan has achieved the establishment of religious tolerance, which is acknowledged and appraised by the world renowned authorized religious leaders.
In his remarks to the event Hidayat Orujov, the chairman of the State Committee on Work with Religious Bodies, stated that the International Day of Tolerance has been marked in Azerbaijan since 1999. The religious tolerance is one of the major directions of the state policy. Azerbaijan has always differed in the East for the level of tolerance, which played an important role in the establishment of peace and stability in the region. With respect to ethnic cleansing held in several countries, particularly in several countries such as Armenia, Mr. Orujov noted that victims of the policy are not only Muslims, but also representatives of other religious confessions. Representatives of different religions confessions peacefully co-exist in Azerbaijan and along with the Azerbaijanis they fought against sovereignty and independence of the country. The chairman of the State Committee also confessed the existence of definite forces in the society desiring to establish confrontation among religious bodies. Mr. Orujov regarded struggle with such provoking forces as major task of representatives of all religious confessions.
Anne Derse, the U.S. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Azerbaijan, appraised the level of tolerance in Azerbaijan and stressed that the tolerance assumes special importance for the whole world. The religious freedom is one of major principles of the U.S. state policy. The United States and Azerbaijan approach with respect the religious beliefs of people. However, extremist forces try to use religion for justifying the violence, but it is inadmissible. Islam rules out terror, she stressed. The Government of Azerbaijan should be more attentive and far-sighted in such situations, she warned..
Episcope of Baku and Caspian Eparchy, the Russian Orthodox Church, Vladik Alexander, the head of Mountain Jews, Semen Ikhiilov, ambassadors of foreign countries, heads of religions organizations were also in attendance. The participants in the conference made an appeal to the President of Azerbaijan.