Pope Francis stands for diplomatic solution to Karabakh conflict

By Azernews

By Gunay Hasanova

Pope Francis stands for the diplomatic settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Vladimir Fekete, Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan said at a press conference in Baku on September 14.

Fekete added that the Catholic Church opposes war and urges to solve such conflicts peacefully. He said the Catholic Church is not directly dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

Fekete didn’t mention whether the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be discussed during Pope Francis's visit to Baku.

Earlier, Vladimir Fekete said at a press conference that the relations between Azerbaijan Vatican are very warm, adding that the activities of Azerbaijan on the reconstruction of Vatican contributed to the development of their relations.

The opening ceremony of the restoration of Vatican catacombs of Saint Marcellino and Pietro initiated by Heydar Aliyev Foundation took place on February 23.

The restoration process of the Holy Roman catacombs is carried out on the basis of a bilateral agreement signed in 2012 between Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Holy See.

The fact that the visit will take place in the year of multiculturalism says that Pope accepts and respects Azerbaijan as a tolerant country, Fekete said.

Pope Francis will visit Baku on October 2. During his visit to Baku, Pope Francis will meet Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, the chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, as well as representatives of other religious communities, a spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Church in Baku Jamila Mammadova, said at a press conference in Baku on September 14.