RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA AND RUSSIA CALLED TO ESTABLISH LASTING PEACE IN CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net - Having held negotiations in Moscow today, religious leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia passed a joint address to their nations, which contains the main principles of peaceful settlement of conflicts in the Caucasus. "Abkhazia, Karabakh, Chechnia, South Osetia are still the bleeding wounds of our peoples. Terrorists, extremists and political radicals are trying to use national and religious differences to ground their goals that are alien to genuine religion," the document says. The address was signed by Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II, Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II, Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II and head of the Muslim Department of the Caucasus Allahshukur Pasha-zade. The religious leaders of the countries of "the Caucasian four" called politicians to convey a renewed impulse to the dialogue, directed at settlement of all differences hampering lasting peace in the Caucasus. They stated their readiness to take considerable part in such a dialogue, "Novosti" Russian agency reported. It should be noted that the 2-nd Inter-Religious Peacemaking Forum of the CIS countries will be held in Moscow March 2-4, 2004.