No:285/23, Press release on the meeting of Minister Jeyhun Bayramov with David Bednar, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
26 May 2023 13:30
On 26 May 2023, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received the delegation led by David Bednar, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in the U.S. state of Utah, who is visiting our country.
During the meeting, Minister J. Bayramov noted that Azerbaijan, as a multinational and multiconfessional country, is a country where people professing all religions live in peace and tranquility, and that currently Azerbaijan has become one of the global centers of intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue. It was stated that a number of initiatives of global importance, including the “Baku Process” initiative authored by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, have been put forward in this direction, and that Azerbaijan has hosted a number of important international events, including the Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
The other side was informed that Azerbaijan, where comprehensive attention and care are ensured for the cultural and religious heritage of various peoples, is one of the countries with exemplary state-religion relations, and that under such conditions, our Christian compatriots freely preserve their traditions, religious beliefs and culture, and actively participate in all spheres of the socio-cultural life of our country.
Minister J. Bayramov also provided information about the occupation of our territories and ethnic cleansing activities by Armenia during the 30-year period, as well as the efforts of our country in the post-conflict period to ensure peace and stability, and restoration and construction works. Armenia’s attempts to hinder the process and the ongoing mine threats were emphasized.
David Bednar stated that he is aware of Azerbaijan’s traditions of tolerance and multiculturalism and important initiatives contributing to interreligious dialogue, and that the values possessed by Azerbaijani society are extremely important in the current period, when discrimination on religious, racial and ethnic grounds has reached a particularly acute scale at the international level. He emphasized that the Church is interested in cooperation with our country within the framework of various programs.
During the meeting, the sides also conducted an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest.
