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Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian clerical leaders on Monday signed a statement at the conclusion of their meeting in Baku that focused on ways of settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill said the trilateral meeting was very successful. ``In my view, this was the right and contemporary initiative for a trilateral meeting, which took place and concluded with the successful signing of a declaration,`` Patriarch Kirill told reporters.
According to Kirill, clerical leaders do not wield political power and cannot ``move troops in one direction or another``, but they have a unique opportunity to capitalize on the values embraced by believers. ``And the fact that representatives of different creeds have met and agreed upon many important things is an important signal to all pious people.``
The patriarch expressed hope that those signals would promote reconciliation, defuse tension in the region and create a solid basis for political leaders who, having assumed the entire brunt of responsibility for a negotiated settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict, would achieve a negotiated solution.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have been largely fruitless so far but are still ongoing. Mediators from Russia, France and the United States are brokering the peace process through the OSCE Minsk Group.
Azerbaijan`s top cleric, the Caucasus Muslims Office chairman, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazada, Armenian Catholicos Garegin II and Russian Patriarch Kirill held their meeting on the sidelines of the two-day summit of world religious leaders, which was held in the Azerbaijani capital early this week.
In the declaration, co-signed by the clerics, they voiced confidence that their joint efforts would facilitate overcoming inter-ethnic hostility. ``Through our peacemaking efforts we will nurture people`s hope for eliminating enmity, because war, if it persists, will never end,`` the joint declaration says.
The three clerical leaders also voiced their support for international efforts aimed at a Garabagh settlement and stressed the need to step up communication among those involved to promote confidence-building and thus achieve peace and good relations between neighbors.
``Supporting efforts of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents, we intend to assist in their aspirations and, in this connection, we deem it important to continue holding dialog between clerical leaders with an aim to facilitate a conflict settlement.``
The declaration emphasizes, however, that the road to peace will be challenging. ``This requires a lot of effort and a powerful will. But our hopes for success are very strong.``
The Baku summit, which brought together nearly 250 delegates from 35 countries, was attended by President Ilham Aliyev. Participants - Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhism and Hindu leaders - discussed the impact of globalization on religion and traditional values.
The summit of world religious leaders ended Tuesday with the adoption of a final declaration. The declaration said ``globalization has not eradicated threats to the security of states, peoples and individuals.``
President Aliyev said in his remarks at the summit`s opening ceremony: ``It is not accidental that this meeting is being held in Baku. Meetings of world religious leaders in Baku have already become regular. For centuries, various nations and representatives of religions have lived in Azerbaijan in a fraternal and brotherly atmosphere, as one family.``
``I have no doubt that this meeting will bring good results and help to reach better concordance among religions, nations and countries. I want to reiterate: we are hopeful Baku will grow into a kind of a center for inter-religious dialogue.``
``Azerbaijan is a natural bridge between Europe and Asia,`` Aliyev underscored. ``I hope a day will come when Baku will be selected the capital of European culture. Thus, Azerbaijan will make a greater contribution to the development of relations between the Christian and Muslim worlds.``
``Azerbaijan ensures all freedoms, including religious ones. Over a thousand mosques are daily functioning in Azerbaijan. Eleven churches, six synagogues and other shrines are operating here. It makes us stronger.``
Of note, despite the summit`s being a top-level event considering the high ranks of its participants, it has drawn the attention of Azerbaijanis mostly due to the Armenian Catholicos` visit to Baku.
Garegin II said in his address that the paramount task facing clerical leaders was to promote settlement of inter-ethnic conflicts in the region and the whole world, noting that all issues should find their solutions in line with international law and the rights of nations.
Regarding the Garabagh conflict, Garegin II said the dispute should be settled peacefully.
``The main duty of religious leaders is, while supporting the presidents, to achieve the advancement of talks and a solution of the conflict. As the Catholicos of all Armenians, I will step up my efforts in this direction together with the Caucasus Clerical Office chairman, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazada. This is our duty.``
Garegin II also suggested holding the next summit of clerical leaders in Yerevan and invited Sheikh Pashazada to attend the event.
``What a happy day it would be if all borders in the region opened up and conflicts were resolved,`` Garegin II added.

Protest
Women members of the hard-line Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) protested at Garegin II`s visit to Baku outside the Gulustan Palace where the world clerics` summit was held.
Holding photos of the women and children slain during the Khojaly massacre committed by Armenians against Azerbaijanis in 1992, the protesters chanted slogans such as ``The Armenian Catholicos is a criminal``, ``The Armenian Catholicos` hands are soaked in Azerbaijani women and children`s blood`` and ``Down with Armenian criminals``. The protesters attempted to meet with the Armenian cleric and voice their outrage, but they were blocked by security officers.
Approaching Ali Hasanov, the head of the Presidential Administration socio-political department who was leaving the summit, the pickets insisted that inviting Garegin II to Azerbaijan was unacceptable.
The police then prompted the protesters to leave the area.
President Aliyev received Armenian Catholicos Garegin II on Monday. The Armenian Apostle Church said in a statement that the one-hour meeting proceeded ``in a sincere and calm atmosphere`` and focused on the Garabagh conflict.
Garegin II and the accompanying delegation visited the Armenian church in Baku on Monday. The Armenian clerics paid tribute to the shrine and read prayers, the statement said. The police surrounded the area to assure the clerics` safety.