Distinguished participants of the Iftar ceremony!

I greet you in the Holy Month of Ramadan and say "Welcome" to al of you—honorable state and religious figures, members of parliament, respected ambassadors, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and the esteemed heads of religious confessions in Azerbaijan.

I note with special gratitude the presence of the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva—who is known as an example of humanism and kindness—at our Iftar ceremony on this blessed day. I pray for the blessings of Almighty Allah upon her and al her esteemed family members.

Distinguished participants of the gathering!

Meeting at the Iftar ceremony of the blessed Ramadan, when the Holy Quran was revealed and prayers are accepted, is by the Grace of Almighty Allah. A lah the Almighty commands us in the Holy Quran:

نﻮُﻘﱠﺘَﺘ ْﻤُﻜ ﱠ ﻠ َﻌَﻠ ْﻤُﻜِﻠْﺒَﻘﻨ ِﻤَﻨﯾِﺬ ﱠ ﻟﺎﯨَﻠ َﻌَﺒِﺘُﻛﺎ َﻤَﻜُﻣﺎَﯿ ِ ّﺼﻟﺎُﻤُﻜْﯿَﻠ َﻌَﺒِﺘُﻛْ اﻮُﻨ َﻣﺂَﻨﯾِﺬ ﱠ ﻟاﺎ َﮭﱡﯾ َ أﺎَﯾ

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" (Al-Baqarah, 183). It is also the Grace and Bounty of our Great Creator that this year, the holy month of Ramadan coincides with the Christian feast of the Annunciation and the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Honorable guests!

Like the high level of state-religion relations in Azerbaijan and our multicultural traditions, this tradition of fraternal assembly is a legacy left to us by the great statesman, National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Thanks be to Alah, under the wise political thinking of His Excelency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, our statehood is continuously developing and progressing with confidence today. May the Supreme Creator always protect the developing Azerbaijani people and the valiant Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of the author of the Karabakh Victory—our victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev! May Almighty A lah have mercy on al our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the motherland and grant healing to our veterans!

The Azerbaijani people are loyal to their national and spiritual values and protect them like the apple of their eye. Today, alongside its leadership in economic, political, and cultural fields in the region, Azerbaijan is recognized worldwide as a center that makes great contributions to the development of religious and spiritual values and the process of inter-civilizational dialogue. Fo lowing the Great Karabakh Victory, the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, continues to bestow upon the Azerbaijani people the pride of historica ly significant victories and prestigious international awards on the global political-diplomatic level.

With His Excelency's blessing, being awarded the prestigious International "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity"—established based on a document signed by the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders (which I represent), the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and the late Pope Francis—is a manifestation of the global human family's appreciation for the President of Azerbaijan’s efforts and deeds that are pleasing to the Creator. Undoubtedly, our honorable President's ideas and initiatives serving human brotherhood on a global scale earn the state of Azerbaijan invincibility, trust, and respect in the international arena. We experience this pride in al the foreign countries we visit and at al the prestigious events to which we are invited.

Our recent meeting in the Vatican with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was not only the Pontiff’s first meeting with a Muslim religious leader but also a manifestation of his respect for the state of Azerbaijan. Indeed, the relations developing on an upward trajectory between the Holy See and the Azerbaijani state, state visits, and the significant contributions made by the First Vice-President of our country, Mehriban Aliyeva, through the Heydar Aliyev Foundation toward the restoration of historical religious monuments and catacombs in the Vatican, are important steps that encourage the further deepening of our existing religious and spiritual ties. One of the symbolic and important events of our cooperation in the field of interreligious dialogue wi l be the holy Iftar table to be held in Rome during this year's month of Ramadan, organized by the Embassy of Azerbaijan to the Holy See and the Caucasus Muslims Board, Inshalah! The Iftar table, which wi l be attended by the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin (representing His Holiness Pope Leo XIV), numerous diplomatic missions accredited to Italy and the Holy See, and representatives of state, religion, and the public, wi l be a tangible contribution of Azerbaijan to the work of interreligious dialogue and cooperation.

Thanks be to God, through the unity of the people and the state, Azerbaijan has fuly restored historical justice—its territorial integrity and sovereignty—by the power of its valiant Army. Today, mosques are being restored in Karabakh, the cal to prayer (Adhan) is rising, and holiday prayers are being performed. The restoration of our religious and spiritual monuments destroyed by Armenian vandals in liberated Karabakh, the Great Return to Karabakh, the unparaleled work done toward the revival of Eastern Zangazur, and the consistent efforts toward the return of our compatriots to Western Azerbaijan make our hearts beat with pride. We feel immense pride in the historic steps taken toward peace, the participation of His Exce lency President Ilham Aliyev in the first meeting of the Peace Council in Washington, and his contributions to global peace. Inspired by our state leader's ideas of universal significance, we proudly present Azerbaijan's model of multiculturalism and tolerance, and the unique experience of inter-sectarian understanding, from many international platforms.

Honorable guests!

As an integral part of the Islamic world, Azerbaijan is a state that defends Islamic values and interests, makes practical contributions to Islamic solidarity worldwide, and demonstrates a resolute position against Islamophobia. I would like to emphasize with gratitude the practical contributions of the honorable ambassadors of Muslim countries participating in our event today toward the development of unity and solidarity in the Islamic world and cultural-spiritual ties between our peoples. I sincerely congratulate everyone on the occasion of the month of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid al-Fitr, and I offer my blessings to our brotherly peoples and countries, and the entire Muslim Ummah, wishing them prosperity and progress. We pray that Almighty A lah grants peace and tranquility to the world, and that the conflicts, wars, and problems occurring globa ly end soon through peace and diplomacy, so that justice may be established, Inshalah!

May Almighty Alah always grant a high station to the peoples of al brotherly states, their wise leaders, and the entire Islamic Ummah participating in our Iftar ceremony today! In this holy and blessed month of Ramadan, we convey our best wishes to His Excelency President Ilham Aliyev, the First VicePresident of our country, Mehriban Aliyeva, and the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva, who honored our Iftar ceremony today. May Almighty Allah always protect our people, our state, and our head of state, and be our helper!

Once again, I say "Welcome" to the distinguished guests, political and public figures, heads of religious confessions, and diplomatic representatives invited to the holy Ramadan ceremony. I also congratulate each of you on the occasion of our ancient national holiday, Novruz, which we are on the eve of, and I wish for God's blessings.

May Almighty Alah protect Azerbaijan and the world! Amen!