U.S. praises state-religion relations in Azerbaijan
By Jamila Babayeva
The State Committee on Work with Religious Structures of Azerbaijan introduced the Azerbaijani model of tolerance at the 62nd National Prayer Breakfast in the U.S..
The event annually conducted with the participation of the President and state representatives took place in Washington, D.C.
This year, Nijat Mammadli, deputy of the State Committee has represented Azerbaijan at the event, the committee reported.
Representatives from 134 countries including the presidents of two countries and state and public figures participated at the National Prayer Breakfast. US President Barack Obama made a speech at the event.
During the presentation, Mammadli spoke about relations between the state and religion and about the atmosphere of religious tolerance in Azerbaijan.
Mammadli noted that the internal policy conducted by the Azerbaijani President is directed at protection of freedom of religion, the creation of equal opportunities for all religious communities of the country and strengthening traditions of tolerance formed in Azerbaijan throughout centuries.
Chairman of the Christian religious community in Azerbaijan, Rasim Halilov also made a speech at the event. He emphasized that there are favourable conditions for the activity of religious communities.
Congressmen Trent Franks (Arizona) and Steve Womack (Arkansas) highlighted that they were convinced by the presentation of the high level of relations between the state and religion in Azerbaijan and that these relations can serve as model for other Post-Soviet countries.