Azerbaijan, Holy See explore fresh opportunities to advance bilateral ties

Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations Ramin Mammadov met with Archbishop Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, head of the Vatican Apostolic Library and Apostolic Archive, during his visit to the Vatican, where the sides discussed relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See.

The meeting highlighted that mutual respect and commitment to universal values serve as a strong foundation for relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Holy See.

The sides noted that the foreign policy course of Azerbaijan’s National Leader Heydar Aliyev, successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev, has played an important role in developing bilateral ties.

It was emphasised that projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation under the leadership of First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, aimed at preserving global cultural heritage in the Vatican, restoring religious and historical monuments, and promoting intercivilizational dialogue, have made a significant contribution to strengthening friendship and mutual trust.

Pagazzi recalled his visit to Azerbaijan with satisfaction and shared his impressions of the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage, as well as its atmosphere of tolerance and religious diversity.

He noted that Azerbaijan-Vatican relations are based on mutual trust and expressed confidence in the further successful development of cooperation in humanitarian, scientific and cultural fields.

The sides also discussed events planned to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and the Vatican.

By Jeyhun Aghazada