President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today congratulated the country's Orthodox Christian community on Easter, AzerTAj state news agency reported.
"I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to you and the whole Christian community of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Holy Easter."
"In Azerbaijan, over centuries, representatives of different cultures and ethnic minorities have lived together in peace and harmony, with the divine religions co-existing in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and confidence," the President said in his congratulatory message.
"We consider tolerance, socio-political stability and civil solidarity, which are built on progressive national and historic values and reign in the modern Azerbaijani society, as an outstanding achievement of the Azerbaijani statehood, and we are rightly proud of it. Preserving and developing ethnic and cultural diversity in the country will continue being a priority for us."
The President said: "Dear fellow countrymen, Easter, which marks the blessed occasion of the birth of Prophet Jesus, embodies renewal, peace, compassion and mercy."
"May this blessed holiday bring happiness into your families and welfare into your lives," the Azerbaijani leader added.