U.S. Ambassador: "Someday no need for Religious Committee in Azerbaijan"

The ambassador said that someday there will be no need for State Committee on Work with Religious Organizations in Azerbaijan.

The chief of the State Committee on Work with Religious Organizations Hidayat Orujov stating his position on the ambassador's statement said that when social, political, religious reality in all spheres in Azerbaijan reaches the level of the US there may be no need for the State Committee on Work with Religious Organizations. "The ambassador's statement is just a pleasant wish," he said.

The chief of the committee said that there is a need for such a state committee for normal activity of the religious organizations. "There are questions that we cannot tell the press. To prevent the interference of radical forces to the religious organizations and the society the state organization should function," he said.

Head of the Caucasian Muslims Office Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh said that Azerbaijani reality is not the same as in the US. "In the US the patriarchy can make appointments to the church. The patriarchy is partially financed by the government. In the US the patriarchy replaces the state organization," he said, APA reports.