November 17, Chairman of the State Committee on Religious Associations (SCRA) Mubariz Gurbanli met with the delegation headed by Edward B. Rowe, the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Stirling Foundation, USA, one of the organizers of the international conference on “Tolerance as a path to peace and cooperation”.

During the meeting, the Chairman has informed the guests about the existing tradition of coexistence, interreligious harmony and has told that respect for tolerant and multicultural values have been Azerbaijani people’s traits. Representatives of different languages, religious faiths and cultures, who have lived peacefully and side by side in Azerbaijan for thousands of years, have preserved their existence up to date, currently, a very significant aspect of public policy has been added to the positive attitude in this direction.

Since Azerbaijan restored independence national leader Heydar Aliyev made a great contribution to the further strengthening of the environment of tolerance and multiculturalism, and this policy is successfully being continued by President Ilham Aliyev, Mr. Gurbanli has emphasized. All denominations have been under constant attention and care in regards of building, reconstructing and restoration of places of worship irrespective of anything and the State provides financial assistance to religious communities.

Mubariz Gurbanli has focused on the historic victory achieved in the 44-day Patriotic War under the leadership of victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and has noted that the solidarity of our nation importance attached to national values and traditions of coexistence, are among the factors that has taken to the victory.

SCRA Chairman gave a detailed information about works carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation at the initiative of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva on reconstruction of religious sites destroyed by Armenians in the territories liberated from 30 years of Armenian occupation.

Edward B. Rowe, the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Stirling Foundation has expressed gratitude for warm welcome and hospitality, Azerbaijan as a state promotes its humanistic values across the world, such as multiculturalism and tolerance, and correctly applies them in its own example.

During the meeting there was an exchange of views on topics of interest to guests

In the end the guests were presented books published in English by the Committee about the environment of religious tolerance in our country and Armenian vandalism against our material and cultural heritage.