On May 13, within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul, a meeting was held between Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade and Cole Durham, President of the G20 Interfaith Forum; Emmanuel, Senior Metropolitan of the Ecumenical Church; Nicole Stirling, Vice-President of the Stirling Foundation; and other officials.

A wide-ranging discussion took place on the establishment of a Multireligious Advisory Council under the G20 Interfaith Forum, and a trilateral memorandum of understanding was signed. Under the memorandum, the Caucasus Muslims Board will act as a founding institution of the Council in question — a development regarded as an important step in terms of Azerbaijan's contribution to interreligious dialogue and as a new stage in this process.

His Eminence the Sheikh ul-Islam expressed the significance of the signing of the memorandum of understanding as follows: "Today we are signing an important document — beyond our existing cooperation with the G20 Interfaith Forum, we will now also act as a founder of the Advisory Council."

Cole Durham, President of the G20 Interfaith Forum, likewise expressed his confidence that this new plane of cooperation would contribute to interreligious dialogue and to the establishment of global peace, and drew attention to Azerbaijan's important services in this process.

An exchange of views then took place regarding preparations for the G20 Interfaith Forum to be held in the United States of America this October, and the guests to be invited. Speaking of the global significance of the G20 forum, His Eminence Allahshukur Pashazade noted that the Caucasus Muslims Board would lend its support to the event. Global and regional matters of mutual interest were subsequently discussed.

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