EDITOR's NOTE: the text of the declaration added
Azerbaijan, Baku, April 26 / Trend, M. Aliyev /
Religious leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia signed a declaration on the basis of a trilateral meeting in Baku.
"I think that it is correct and timely initiative of the trilateral meeting, which was held and crowned with success of signing of a joint declaration," Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill said to journalists after signing ceremony.
According to him, religious leaders have no political power and can not "guide the troops". "But they have a special opportunity to appeal to those values that are very close to believers. And the fact that representatives of different religions met and agreed on many important issues is an important signal to all believers"- Kirill said.
The Patriarch expressed the hope that these signals will contribute to reconciliation, reduce tension in the region and create a good atmosphere for political leaders in order to come to an agreed outcome taking full responsibility for the political settlement of the conflict.
Head of the Caucasus Moslems Clerical Office Sheikulislam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill met within participation in the World Summit of world religious leaders, which is underway in these days in Baku.
"Today we consider following spiritual guidelines of cooperation especially important to overcome the estrangement between our nations. The potential of religion, calling for goodness, peace, compassion, patience must be a reconciling force," the declaration says.
"We believe that our joint efforts will help to overcome international hostility. We hope we will be able to support the people's hopes to overcome the current divisions, barriers and hostility with peacekeeping efforts, because the war will have no end".
The document says that the religious leaders of the three countries support international efforts to resolve the conflict and stress the need for expansion of communication in order to strengthen confidence to achieve peace and good neighborliness.
"Supporting the efforts of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents, we intend to contribute to their aspirations; therefore we consider it important to continue the dialogue between religious leaders in order to help resolve the conflict, which will enable people to return to the places, from where they were expelled. We welcome the acts of goodwill of the sides - the release of prisoners, and call on both political and religious leaders to intensify their efforts in this noble and humane process, we condemn the acts of vandalism and consider it important to preserve religious monuments and sacred places of our peoples," the document says.
"The path to peace is not easy, but we have a fervent hope of success, and, uniting our efforts, we hope to overcome the estrangement and prejudice. Let the blessed land of the Caucasus has a lasting and just peace, and our people will inherit the welfare and prosperity," said in the document.