“I am an orthodox mullah”
The sitting of the Presidium of the CIS Inter-Religious Council kicked off in Yerevan today. The meeting features leaders and representatives of religions traditionally professed on the territory of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Sheikh ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of the Caucasus Allahshukur Pashazade's visit to Yerevan is in the focus of public attention for his is known for his Armenophobic statements.
The sitting started with speeches about tolerance.
"Tolerance" is translated as patience in Russian. One can be patient by gritting his teeth," Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said in his opening speech.
Serzh Sargsyan was amused by the Russian Patriarch's speech when the latter recalled an episode from his life.
"Years ago in Uzbekistan I was stopped by a Muslim traffic policeman for exceeding speed limits. He looked at me carefully and asked, "'who are you?" "An orthodox mullah," was my reply. "You are a good man, why are you going so fast?" he said,"
In his speech, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, raised the issue of existing conflicts, calling the presentees' attention to the Karabakh conflict.
Allahshukur Pashazade said he was for the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict and expressed support for the efforts of leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states.
"Millions of people have to live as refugees in the Caucasus which hinders the further development of the CIS and the Caucasus," he said.
