President of Azerbaijan receives delegation headed by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe
Sept 26, 2005
President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev on 12 September at the Presidential Palace received the delegation headed by prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe.
(September 12, 2005, azertag.com) The Head of Azerbaijan State, having emphasized, that carrying out on the last Sunday in Baku ceremonies of stone laying of the base of Catholic church is extremely significant event, informed that the decision on construction of church was accepted a year ago. With satisfaction having recollected about the visit to Vatican, President Ilham Aliyev has noted that during the mentioned visit he has presented to Vatican final documents connected to construction of church. He has told: “Construction of this church in Azerbaijan once again testifies to very high level of religious tolerance, tolerance in our country. All religions are freely professed, and all people live as one family.
President Ilham Aliyev has emphasized: “We give great value to development of relations with Vatican and are very pleased with the high level of our connections. We are sure that our cooperation will develop and henceforth. Your visit to Azerbaijan will serve greater development of our links, President Aliyev stressed.
The President of Azerbaijan highly has estimated visit of the Pope of Rome John Paul II to Azerbaijan, having emphasized that between the national leader Heydar Aliyev and the Pope there were very sincere friendly relations.
Having expressed on his behalf and on behalf of the delegation to the President of Azerbaijan gratitude for the rendered reception, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe has conveyed him greetings and kindest wishes of the head of the State of Vatican Benedict XVI. The guest told: “The Pope knows about my forthcoming visit to Azerbaijan, he counts this visit extremely important. On behalf of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI I express to You deep gratitude that showing nobleness, you have supported the work we do in Azerbaijan, and are sure that this support will continue and henceforth. We express to you warm gratitude for participation in ceremony of the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Vatican very highly has estimated it. Between your father dear Heydar Aliyev, and Pope John Paul II, there were very sincere and close friendly relations. The decision accepted by President Heydar Aliyev on allocation of the site for construction of Catholic Church in Baku became for us a worthy present. This is a bright example of what great value you give to development of connections with Vatican.
Further, the Cardinal told: “Today in the morning we have visited the tomb of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to honor his bright memory and assign a wreath. We also have visited the Alley of Martyrs. We wish that the house for deprived cares has been constructed, for poor people, and once again we express to you gratitude for the adopted decision on allocation of the site on these purposes. In Azerbaijan what is extremely important, rules the tolerance. In your country, significant development in all spheres are observed, the full tolerance, tolerance as with religious, and in the civil point of view. One of the basic wishes of the Holy Throne consists in that people in all countries lived in conditions of tranquility and that the stable peace existed. In this connection, with a view of rendering support to your Excellency and making contribution to this cause, the representative of Vatican works in your country. Besides, the head of Catholic community in Baku also is always ready to support to you in this work. Continuing the efforts, they and henceforth will do the utmost in the name of well-being of Azerbaijani people, in the name of that it has achieved progress in conditions of peace.
President Ilham Aliyev has expressed gratitude for cordial greetings of the Pope of Rome and asked to pass to his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI his sincere greetings and kind wishes.
President of Azerbaijan receives delegation headed by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe