Iftar – breaking fast on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan – has been celebrated on Saturday in the residence of the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims. The event was attended by the heads of other traditional confessions in Azerbaijan: Head of the Baku and Azerbaijan Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, Alexander, and the chairman of the Baku religious community of Mountain Jews, Milih Yevdayev.
Such meetings have already become a traditional manifestation of constructive religious and public relations. This tradition was established by Heydar Aliyev, and the current head of state considers it his duty to visit such events.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ilham Aliyev noted that the main condition for the success of Azerbaijan is well-developed policy, unity among peoples and the authorities, as well as building religion-state relations on a firm basis: "Our international prestige is quite high. Today, Azerbaijan is a country which has great support and respect in the world. We couldn’t have achieved this success without a solid basis... There are more than 200 countries in the world. All of them are independent. But in many cases this independence is half-hearted, or relative. So we are an independent state in the true sense of this word."
The state plays a positive role in the regulation of inter-religious relations in Azerbaijan. Numerous international forums, conferences, and forums related to interreligious dialogue, multiculturalism and humanitarian issues have made the country a standard of inter-religious peace.
All the historical mosques in Azerbaijan have been renovated by the state. They are the Bibiheybat, Tazapir and Azhdarbey mosques, as well as one of the oldest mosques in the Muslim world, the Shamakhi mosque, built in the year 743.
Now restoration work is being carried out in the Imamzade religious complex. The construction and commissioning of the Heydar Aliyev mosque at the end of last year was considered a historic event in Azerbaijan.
"Several years ago, during a pilgrimage to Mecca, praying in the sacred Kaaba, I decided that I would build a large, grand mosque Azerbaijan, which will be named after Heydar Aliyev,’’ Ilham Aliyev said. "It is my contribution to the memory of my father. Being a Muslim, I am happy that I managed to do this. I am a very happy person, as I have prayed three times inside the sacred Kaaba.’’
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation visited Baku in May. He expressed his opinion that almost all the religious issues in Azerbaijan are resolved at the highest level. Good inter-religious, inter-ethnic relations and the values of multiculturalism have become a way of life for the country. And this is happening at a time of ongoing wars in the world and clashes based on national and religious conflict, increasing tendencies of Islamophobia, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism.
"Senior officials have expressed very dangerous propositions, saying that multiculturalism has failed, and it has no future. Visit Azerbaijan and see for yourself! Multiculturalism in Azerbaijan lives and strengthens. Myself, His Eminence the Sheikh, Father Alexander and Milih Yevdayev spoke at the opening of the ceremony at the Heydar Aliyev mosque. Here are our realities! This is normal for us," Ilham Aliyev said.
Baku considers that Azerbaijan's successful development is possible only in this direction. Without it, security, economic development and social justice are impossible. However, the country has some problems tied with the occupation of 20% of its territory. Some refugees are still living in very bad conditions. But Baku promises to resolve these problems by means of a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the context of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Today particular attention is paid to the education of young people. Both in the national spirit, and the spirit of multiculturalism. The success of such a policy was demonstrated at the First European Games in Baku. There were about twenty thousand volunteers at the Games. Our guests also noted the educated, multilingual, competent, professional and well-brought-up youth. In Azerbaijan such a policy is considered to be a protection against terrorism, extremism, radicalism, as educated people rarely lose their way.
