Joint Declaration of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshuqur Pasha-zade, Chairman of the Religious Board of the Caucasus Peoples

JOINT DECLARATION OF PATRIARCH ALEXY II OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA AND SHEIKH-UL-ISLAM ALLAHSHUQUR PASHA-ZADE, CHAIRMAN OF THE RELIGIOUS BOARD OF THE CAUCASUS PEOPLES

We, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and Chairman of the Supreme Religious Council of the Caucasus Peoples, being aware of our responsibility before the Most High Creator and our spiritual children, met in Moscow to continue our joint work for the establishment of peace in the Caucasus and development of good relations between our two religious communities, nations and states.

Both Christianity and Islam command that man should live in such a way that the world after him may become better and kinder. Fulfilling the design of the Creator, we should transform this world, working together, but remaining what we are – Muslims and Christians, Azeri and Russians, sons and daughters of other nations.

We have a unique experience of interreligious cooperation, which brings good fruit and can serve as an edifying example. A year has passed since the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church visited Azerbaijan, a country of old Islamic traditions. This truly historic visit, a natural result of long-standing fraternal cooperation between the religious leaders of the two countries, marked the beginning of the 21st century, which, despite new tragedies, should become a century of peace and brotherly love. During that visit, we set an excellent example of interaction for the sake of peace and harmony, prosperity and happiness for people of different nationalities and faiths.

The time that has passed since our meeting last year has not lessened old concerns but rather added new ones, which require of us a clear response and common efforts. During our fraternal dialogue at St. Daniel’s monastery, we discussed many pressing problems, both local, such as the situation in the Karabakh conflict region and Northern Caucasus, and global.

We are convinced that our religions reject coercion in the matters of faith, as well as aggressive violence, terrorism and extremism in any manifestation. We see as blasphemous the attempts to use religious slogans and symbols for fanning up enmity. We are concerned for the long and carefully planned expansion of foreign religious movements and organizations in the countries of the Commonwealth of the Independent States. They destroy the spiritual identity of nations in order to extend their temporal influence. A special threat comes from politicized extremist pseudo-missionaries and totalitarian and destructive sects penetrating into our countries. We reject the strategy and practice of proselytism that divides believers and causes them to quarrel everywhere in the world.

Concerning the situation in the Caucasus, we believe it necessary to emphasize once again the desire of its peoples to live as good neighbours, without alienating one another, but maintaining mutual understanding and respect. This is the only way guaranteeing a lasting peace with justice blessed by the Most High. We say resolute “no” to the forces which deprive people of the right to live in the land of their forefathers, infringe on the integrity, security and stability of states, sow the poisonous seeds of separatism and impede good and equitable relations among nations.

The duty of religious leaders is to promote by prayer, words and deeds the resolution of conflicts, to appeal to people’s conscience and to heal their spiritual illnesses. We highly appreciate the common efforts in this area made by the Caucasus Muslim Board and the Russian Orthodox Church including its diocese of Baku and Prikaspisk.

In the course of our fraternal meeting, we considered for the first time a possibility for establishing permanent forms of interreligious cooperation within the Commonwealth of the Independent States. This could make a very positive impact not only on the climate of relations between the two communities of believers but also on the political and social situation throughout the Commonwealth.

Concerning the convening of another meeting between religious leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia with the traditional mediation of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, we have taken into account the objective reasons for which this meeting has been poisoned till an indefinite time. We hope that it will take place in the end of this year.

We highly appreciate the work of the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, Vladimir Putin and Geidar Aliev, and bless their efforts for the development of friendly relations between our two nations, establishment of peace and stability in the Caucasus and the revival of time-honoured spiritual traditions.

We are confident that through the efforts of religious, state and public leaders as well as all well-wishing people we will be able to draw nearer the triumph of peace, justice and universal prosperity.

For this we lift up our prayers to our Almighty Lord and Creator, asking Him that His Spirit may come to dwell on all people.