No:078/25, Press release on the meeting between Deputy Minister Elnur Mammadov and the delegation of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
27 February 2025 18:16
On 27 February 2025, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Elnur Mammadov, met with a delegation of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which was on a visit to our country.
During the meeting with the delegation led by the Chair of the Commission Stephen Schneck, an exchange of views was held on cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States in the field of religious affairs as a component of humanitarian cooperation within bilateral relations, as well as on the importance of values such as multiculturalism and religious tolerance in promoting mutual respect and peaceful coexistence in the modern era.
Chair of the Commission S. Schneck noted that the visit was carried out in order to directly familiarize themselves with the experience gained over the past year in regulating religious affairs in Azerbaijan. He stated that, within the framework of the visit, meetings are planned with representatives of relevant state institutions and various religious communities in Azerbaijan.
Deputy Minister Elnur Mammadov подчеркнул that Azerbaijan’s deeply rooted and exemplary traditions of multiculturalism and religious tolerance have long been recognized at the highest international levels, and emphasized that our country is always interested in the exchange of best practices in this field.
He noted that Azerbaijan’s historical development, as well as its geographical location and rich demographic composition, have played a significant role in shaping a culture of tolerance across national, ethnic, and religious dimensions in the country. In this regard, the Deputy Minister stressed the importance of reflecting, in the annual reports published by USCIRF, the existing harmony and peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions in Azerbaijan through objective approaches and narratives. He also highlighted the importance of the continued targeted state support policy aimed at further developing this exemplary environment in a progressive manner.
Deputy Minister Mammadov also emphasized the importance of a fact-based methodology in studying and analyzing issues in such reports, noting the expectation that acts of violence and various forms of vandalism committed against Azerbaijan’s religious monuments during the long years of occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia should also be comprehensively reflected in USCIRF publications. He underlined that such inhumane actions have dealt a serious blow not only to the Azerbaijani people but also to the religious and moral values of all societies sensitive to such issues.
The meeting also included an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest.
