The Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal John Jacob, highly valued the support Azerbaijan provides to interreligious dialogue on a global scale.
According to Crossmedia.az, he said this during his meeting with the Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Ramin Mammadov.
At the meeting, which was also attended by the head of the Dicastery's Islam Office, Father Laurent Basanese, the Chairman of the State Committee, Ramin Mammadov, stated that Azerbaijan is making consistent efforts toward establishing lasting peace, security, and relations based on mutual trust in the region, and is putting forward important initiatives:
"Favorable conditions have been created in the Republic for the free activity of communities belonging to various religious confessions, and consistent measures are being carried out to preserve their religious and cultural heritage and to restore and support their places of worship."
Ramin Mammadov noted that Azerbaijan's model of coexistence is based on the principles of mutual respect, equal rights, and inclusivity.
Cardinal John Jacob Koovakad stated that the Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations and the Holy See's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue is of significant importance in developing bilateral relations.
He noted that he highly values the work being done in Azerbaijan to preserve religious diversity and strengthen traditions of tolerance, including Azerbaijan's rich experience in this field and the support it provides to interreligious dialogue on a global scale.
He said that the cooperation and friendly relations among the leaders of various religious confessions are exemplary in character.
At the meeting, detailed information was provided about the documentary film "Harmony," produced by Arzu Aliyeva, head of the Baku Media Center, which reflects the traditions of coexistence and tolerance in Azerbaijan. There was an exchange of views on the idea of presenting the film — a joint project of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, its affiliated Foundation for the Promotion of Spiritual Values, and the Baku Media Center — in foreign countries, including the Vatican.
During the meeting, joint initiatives carried out in the field of promoting dialogue among religions and cultures, the importance of cooperation between religious leaders and institutions against the backdrop of global challenges, and other matters of mutual interest were also discussed.
The Cardinal highly valued Azerbaijan's support for interreligious dialogue.
Source: crossmedia.az