Algerian minister: Country plans student exchanges with Azerbaijan

The Algerian Religious Affairs Ministry intends to develop an agreement on a student exchange with Azerbaijan, Religious Affairs Minister Bu Abdullah Gulam Allah said.

• “We plan to invite Caucasus Muslims Organization (CMO) head Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade and some representatives of Azerbaijani universities to discuss arrangements for student exchanges,” Allah said, who represented his country at a two-day religious summit in Baku. 
• The World Religious Leaders Summit held in April 26-27 was attended by 250 representatives of various confessions from 35 countries worldwide.
• Participants called on traditional religious communities to confront extremism and terrorism.
• He said Azerbaijan and Algeria have potential for cooperation in many sectors. He noted that Algeria can help Azerbaijani students wishing to learn Islamic law.
• Regarding the role of religious dialogue in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Allah said if the Armenian Church and the Azerbaijani Spiritual Directorate sign an agreement, then such a document will bring benefit.
• Religious leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia also signed a declaration on the basis of a trilateral meeting in Baku during the summit. The document says that the religious leaders have a special opportunity to appeal to those values that are very close to believers.
• Pashazade, Catholicos of All-Armenia Karekin II and Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Kirill met during the summit.
• “The fact that representatives of different religions met and agreed on many important issues is an important signal to all believers,” Kirill said.
• The patriarch expressed hope that these signals will contribute to reconciliation, reduce tensions in the region and create an atmosphere allowing political leaders to reach an agreement to resolve conflicts.