(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Details added: first version posted on 15:05
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Multicultural values
of Azerbaijani society are extremely important, David Bednar,
member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) located in Utah (US), said
at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov,
trend reports.
During the meeting, Bayramov noted that Azerbaijan as a
multinational and multi-confessional state, where representatives
of all religions live in peace and prosperity, has become one of
the global centers of intercultural and inter-civilizational
dialogue.
According to the minister, a number of globally significant
initiatives, including the Baku Process initiated by the President
of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, were put forward and
Azerbaijan also held a number of important international events in
this direction, including the UN Global Forum of the Alliance of
Civilizations.
Bayramov also said that Azerbaijan, where comprehensive
attention and care is provided for the cultural and religious
heritage of various peoples, is one of the countries where there
are exemplary relations between states and religion, and Christians
in the country, freely preserve their traditions, religious
beliefs, culture, actively participate in all spheres of the social
and cultural life of Azerbaijan.
The minister also informed about the 30-year occupation of
Azerbaijani territories and the ethnic cleansing carried out by
Armenia.
Information was also provided on the reconstruction and
construction work in Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period
[following the 2020 second Karabakh war], and its efforts to ensure
peace and stability.
Armenia's attempts to impede this process and the remaining mine
threat were emphasized.
Bednar noted that he's aware of the tolerance and
multiculturalism traditions in Azerbaijan, as well as important
initiatives promoting interreligious dialogue.
He also noted that the values which Azerbaijani society has in
the current period when discrimination on religious, racial, and
ethnic grounds becomes especially acute at the international level,
are extremely significant.
He stressed the interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan within
the framework of various church programs.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on other issues
of mutual interest.