Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended an Iftar party on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan hosted by Head of the Caucasian Muslims` Board Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade at his residence on Monday.

Pashazade thanked President Aliyev for accepting the invitation to attend the Iftar party and described this as respect for Islam and "our national and spiritual values".

Pashazade noted the Ramadan is a month of solidarity, brotherhood, love and mercy. He pointed out Iftar party being organized in Azerbaijan demonstrates traditional tolerance and unity in the country.

Pashazade underlined the stability, development, unity, the freedom of religion and tolerance are based on national leader Heydar Aliyev`s wise policy. He added President Aliyev successfully continues this policy.

He also underlined the contributions of President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva to protection of national and spiritual values in the country.

Head of the Baku and Caspian Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, Father Alexander spoke at the event, praising tolerance in Azerbaijan. He presented Russian Orthodox Church`s St Apostle Bartholomew gold medal to President Aliyev for his contribution to strengthening interreligious dialogue.

The event was also addressed by head of the community of Mountain Jews Semyon Ikhiilov and ecclesiastical superior of Vatican`s "sui iuris" mission Vladimir Fekete.

Speaking at the event, the Azerbaijani leader said iftar party had become a good tradition, describing it a striking example of government-religion unity.

He noted this tradition started by national leader Heydar Aliyev and Allahshukur Pashazade is continued successfully today.

Aliyev pointed out interreligious dialogue in the country is exemplary, saying all nations live as one family here. The Azerbaijani leader said the country contributes to the Islamic solidarity.

On the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the president expressed confidence that the problem would be solved in line with international legal norms and on the basis of territorial integrity of the country.

Present at the meeting also were Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov, head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev, state and government officials, ambassadors accredited in Azerbaijan, representatives of religious communities, MPs.