Vatican's representative: Religious leaders should highlight the 'pedagogy of peace'

Azerbaijan, Baku, April 26 / Trend U.Sadikhova /

The religion's role in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict may be a call for respect for fundamental human rights and observance of the international law, Chair of the Pontifical Council for Interfaith Dialogue Jean-Luis Tauran said.

Tauran leads the Vatican's delegation to the Baku World Religious Leaders' Summit.

Regarding the role of interreligious dialogue in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Tauran stressed the importance of compliance with the human rights and traditions of each people.

"In all these crises, we must not forget that a man stands in the center of all," he said.

Today's summit should give impetus to the call, that mankind can not be happy continuing to fight and not interacting, Tauran added.

"I believe the religious leaders should highlight the" pedagogy of peace". We ere trying to invite political leaders in the ethical motives for action, because religion is a just factor of harmony," he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.

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