The Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, within the framework of his visit to the USA, visited Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the UN Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations, and UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Islamophobia, at the office of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
Miguel Moratinos warmly welcomed Sheikh-ul-Islam A. Pashazade, introducing him to the organization's office and staff. Subsequently, the parties exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and joint activities for the future.
Mr. Moratinos touched upon the reception of the Sheikh-ul-Islam by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, emphasizing the importance of this meeting and noting that it was the first time Mr. Guterres had received a religious leader at the Headquarters during his nearly 9 years as Secretary-General.
Sheikh-ul-Islam, in turn, expressed his deep gratitude to M. Moratinos for his decisive efforts in making this meeting happen.
Mr. Moratinos sincerely congratulated the Chairman of the CMB and all the people of Azerbaijan on the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He noted that the UN Alliance of Civilizations is determined to continue close relations with Azerbaijan, actively participate in the peacebuilding process in the South Caucasus region, and develop cooperation in this direction with the Azerbaijani side, including the CMB. Referring to the meeting with the UN Secretary-General, he emphasized the great significance and importance of the Secretary-General's statements that the destructive position of the Armenian Church and diaspora, which the CMB Chairman mentioned at the meeting, is unacceptable, and that he will, on the other hand, support all of the Sheikh-ul-Islam's initiatives. The parties also expressed their satisfaction with the successful continuation of the large-scale restoration process of all religious and cultural sites in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, regardless of their origin.
The parties also discussed the upcoming Intra-Islamic Dialogue and Anti-Islamophobia conference to be co-organized by the Caucasus Muslims Board, the Council of Muslim Elders, and the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Azerbaijan next year, as well as the next global forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations to be held in Saudi Arabia in December of this year.
The meeting was attended by Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, Khazar Ibrahim, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to the USA, and Tofig Musayev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UN.

CMB Press Service

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