Religious and secular leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as "all people of goodwill" should make efforts to stop the bloodshed in Nagorno-Karabakh, a statement by the Presidium of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, published on the website of the organization, reads.
"We ask the religious leaders and heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the general public and all people of good will to show strong determination to peace and responsibility for the future of nations, to stop the bloodshed, to continue peace negotiations and fully contribute to the establishment of peace in the ancient and long-suffering land of Nagorno-Karabakh," it says.
The organization supported the initiative of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who at the beginning of the month called for an extension of the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and asked the religious leaders of the countries to help stop the bloodshed. In particular, he addressed the Supreme Patriarch Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, the head of the Caucasus Muslims Department. He recalled the efforts previously made by religious leaders to resolve the conflict in Karabakh.
The organization also recalled that Islam is "a religion of peace, love for people, kindness and creation.
"The foundations of our faith are inviolable and contribute to the establishment and consolidation of peaceful coexistence between people of different faiths and nationalities. The Almighty tells us: "O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you" (Holy Quran, 49:13). "And help one another to benignancy and piety, and do not help one another to vice and hostility" (Holy Quran, 5:2)," the message concludes.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Sergey Bobylev / TASS
Based on materials from RIA Novosti