Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
May 11 2004
MEETING OF SHEIKH UL-ISLAM WITH US AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN
[May 11, 2004, 22:52:35]
On May 11, Chairman of the Clerical Office of Caucasus Moslem, Sheikh
ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh has met in his residence the
plenipotentiary ambassador of the USA to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish on
his request.
During the meeting passed in friendly conditions, discussed were
questions of political situation in the world, in particular, the
attitude towards Islam in the USA after the events on 11 September.
Mr. Reno Harnish has emphasized that between terrorism and the
Islam there is no connection. In Iraq, the USA conducts war against
political opponents, but not against the Islam. The ambassador has
reminded that in 1993 the United States rescued Moslems in Kosovo.
The diplomat has presented to the Sheikh ul-Islam A. Pashazadeh the
brochures issued in the USA in the Azerbaijan and Russian languages
where it is stated that 5 million Moslems in the USA take part in all
spheres of political life of the country. They are equal in rights
members of our society, R. Harnish underlined.
Sheikh Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh has noted that after the 11
September events, Azerbaijan has declared one of the first that
is against terrorism and has offered assistance in combat against
this evil.
The head of Caucasus Moslems has informed the visitor on work which is
carried out by this structure, about his trip to Teheran where there
passed conference in which representatives of various faiths from
90 countries of the world took part. Religious figures spoke about
necessity in common to solve sharp conflicts, but not by sword, and
peacefully. It was pleasant to note, that the example of tolerance
and wide experience of peaceful co-existence among various faiths
had been named Azerbaijan. It is the true course of our national
leader Heydar Aliyev, successfully continued by his successor –
the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
Speaking about the conflicts existing in the world, the parties
have expressed confidence for quick peace settlement of the Nagorny
Karabakh conflict.
Then, the US ambassador Reno Harnish and the head of Caucasus Moslems
Clerical Office Sheikh ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh have
continued conversation in private.
In conclusion, of R. Harnish and A. Pashazadeh have answered questions
of journalists.