Azerbaijan News Service

"Free coexistence of different religious communities as well as high-level tolerancy in Azerbaijan can be example not in the region but also in the world"

Rabbi Abraham Cooper: "High-level tolerancy as well as achievements obtained in this sphere in Azerbaijan create condition for world countries to try to regulate the conflict within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan."

Chief of State Committee for Religious Communities Hidayat Orujov received the Head of the Los-Angeles Tolerance Center Rabbi Abraham Cooper. H.Orujov gave detailed information about the religious situation in the country and said Jews have long lived in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is the only country in former-Soviet Union never having international dissention. Azerbaijani government regards all religions equally and the history of Judaism goes to long ago in Azerbaijan. Despite 96% of population is Moslims, Christianity and Fire-worship existed in the area. Religion is apart from state in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a secular country. Government creates condition for protection of religious values and freedom of religious faith in our country. State and religious relations have been already formed historically in Azerbaijan. Secular state system is the achievement of our country and this model has not been exported from abroad. It is the outcome of the ideology, outlook and intellect of Azerbaijani people. H.Orujov stressed that Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Daqliq Qarabaq also causes concern. Armenia does not want to leave its crafty policy. Religious and national monuments are being ruined, lands – arsoned and become useless in Armenians occupied areas of Azerbaijan as a result of Armenian aggression continuing today. Unfortunately this vandalism continues before eyes of world countries and world union fail to exert enough influence on Armenia. The Chief of State Committee emphasized Jews living in Azerbaijan feel no concern. "Red settlement" in Azerbaijani Guba region is the second area after Israel where Jews live compactly. Historically Azerbaijan was the junction of sivilizations and tolerancy is linked with its nature and humanism. The Chief of State Committee stressing that 8 out of 32 legally registered non-İslam religious communities are Jewish communities drew attention to the fact that 5 synagogues function in the republic and Azerbaijani government has created condition for praying and religious rites of Jews.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper thanked for sincere welcoming and detailed information and said free coexistence of different religious communities as well as high-level tolerancy in Azerbaijan can be example not in the region but also in the world.

Truth about Azerbaijan is being spread in America and taken kindly. Commenting on Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Daqliq Qarabaq, the guest stressed that high-level tolerancy as well as achievements obtained in this sphere in Azerbaijan create condition for world countries to try to regulate the conflict within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.