Azerbaijani envoy meets Tajik official

Azerbaijani ambassador to Tajikistan Abbasali Hasanov has met chairman of the country`s State Committee on Religious Affairs Abdurahim Kholiqov. They discussed deepening religious relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan.

Hasanov briefed Kholiqov on the care of national leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev for Islam. He said the Bibiheybat, Tazapir mosques in Baku and Imamzade Complex in Ganja had been capitally repaired by the Azerbaijani government. He added Pravoslav churches were freely operating in Azerbaijan without any intervention.
Kholiqov, in turn, said the number of mosques increases in Tajikistan. He also spoke of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon`s care for religious issues in the country.

Ambassador Hasanov extended greetings of Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade and chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Elshad Isgandarov to Kholiqov.

The ambassador presented a letter to the committee chairman inviting him to a conference on Muslims of CIS countries for peace to be held on April 16-17 in Baku.

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Azerbaijani ambassador to Tajikistan Abbasali Hasanov has met the country`s minister of culture Mirzashakhrukh Asrori.

During the meeting, the talks focused on how to expand cultural cooperation between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, organize various events in both Baku and Dushanbe. They said an agreement on cooperation between National conservatories of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan was expected to be signed in the near future.
The ambassador also proposed holding an organ recital in Tajikistan Art University.

Asrori, in turn, said a mugham concert could be held in Tajikistan as part of a festival-symposium to take place on May 9-13. The minister noted he was invited to the next mugham festival, competition of young pianists and World Forum on Cultural Dialogue to be held in Baku. He recalled that last year Tajik representatives took the first and third places in the mugham competition.

Ambassador Hasanov also proposed putting on stage Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli`s “Leyli and Majnun” opera in the Opera and Ballet Theatre named after S.Ayni. The diplomat also stressed the possibility of holding an Azerbaijani cinema week and ashiq music concert in Dushanbe this year.

Asrori praised the fact that there were many prominent composers in Azerbaijan, stressing the importance of sending Tajik students to this country.


/AzerTAc/