His Holiness Karekin II is the highest ranking representative of the Armenian people to visit Azerbaijan since independence.

His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrossian, General Secretary of the Inter Church Relations Department of the Mother See, His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukian, Office Director of the Inter Church Relations Department and Rev. Fr. Vahram Melikian, Director of the Information Services Department of the Mother See accompanied His Holiness to Baku.

His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Officer of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), is also participating in the summit as an officer and immediate past President of the National Council of Churches USA.

Upon arrival, His Holiness and the delegation traveled to the Gulustan Palace where the opening ceremony of World Summit was held. The morning session was opened by Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Grand Mufti of the Muslims of the Caucasus, and attended by Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan. During the opening, the Armenian Pontiff delivered his remarks to those in attendance.

Greeting the participants on behalf of the Armenian Church and the worldwide Armenian nation, His Holiness wished the participants of the summit success in their work.

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Message of His Holiness KAREKIN II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
World Summit of Religious Leaders
Baku, April 26, 2010

Honored brothers and guests,

We greet you on behalf of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian people dispersed throughout the world, and wish success to the activities of this summit. We extend our thanks to His Excellency Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Grand Mufti of the Muslims of the Caucasus, and to His Holiness Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, for the invitation to participate in this conference.

We offer thanks to our Lord, that we, the leaders of the world’s religions, as testimony to good will, have gathered together to consider and search for avenues of cooperation for the sake of the preservation and defense of spiritual values in our contemporary world, to direct our call for love, solidarity and collaboration to our peoples and the entire world and in an effort to overcome the challenges and fundamental issues facing mankind today.

We welcome the initiative to discuss issues surrounding globalization, religion and traditional values in the summit, and in this respect, to reflect on the dialogue between cultures and religions, as well as to discuss ways to overcome the prevailing dangers that disturb the just and peaceful progress of the world. It is our sacred duty to bring every effort, energy and vigor to putting an end to wars and terrorism; to eliminate poverty and its resulting societal effects, for the sake of a life of security, goodness and peace for mankind, which is also the Will of God, as the Holy Bible says, "For God is not the God of discord, but of peace". I Corinthians 14:33.

In our days of continuing expansion of the dimensions of communicative and collaborative progress in political, economic, scientific, technological, cultural, educational and other spheres, and the sustained strengthening of ties and relationships among peoples, we regrettably do not yet see the outlook of a world where humanity and philanthropy, divinely established commandments and laws reign; where man is the highest value and where his rights are respected. Today climatological and environmental issues resulting from technological experiments and atmospheric pollution are of universal concern, and testify to the lack of respect and care by mankind for the world formed by the Creator. Terrorism, intergovernmental and regional conflicts, and interethnic clashes endanger the safety and lives of many thousands of people. Additional threats are created by informational incitements and manipulation of religious factors, using distorted facts and by warping the religious knowledge of the faithful, to greater enflame the fire of tragedies and clashes and serve as an opportunity for the destruction of cultural treasures. In the processes of globalization, the dangers of equalization of religious and national values come forth, which threaten national identities, the spiritual being of men, the sacred understanding of the family, and the moral purity of the new generation.

We believe in the dialogue between religions and cultures aimed at facing the current issues in the world, and for the welfare and prosperity of mankind. For all peoples, alongside of their unique national characteristics and customs, the values of philanthropy, honesty and justice are universal; the aspiration for a free, peaceful and happy life is universal. Which culture does not praise respect, love and support to one another? Which culture does not appreciate and elevate the noble, the virtuous and those who serve mankind with goodness? For us – the leaders of religions and all those who serve the Word of God – our mission is to reinforce those global values within our people, to strengthen them in faith, to lead them on God-pleasing paths, so that goodness and decency flourish in this world, according to the words of the Apostle, "that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" II Corinthians 4:7, since the efforts of men for harmony, peace and welfare will be in vain without the help of God.

As we are in Baku, we offer praise and thanks to God today, for the continued efforts to solve the Karabagh conflict through peaceful means. In this respect, it is necessary to note with importance and appreciation the conscientious efforts of the countries that Co-Chair the OSCE Minsk Group. We also reflect with gratitude on the mediation efforts invested by the Russian Orthodox Church from the very beginning to find a solution to the problem. The authorities of our countries, at the highest level of the presidents of the republics, similarly continue the process of negotiations. We are also pleased that there are ties and dialogue among the representatives of civil society and non-governmental organizations of our two countries, in the context of which joint film productions and youth and sports programs are taking place. We are hopeful that these efforts shall continue, so that the final resolution of the problem be found exclusively through peaceful means, to decide the difficult issues according to international laws and standards and corresponding to the rights of the people. We, as Pontiff of All Armenians, place importance on the continuation of our efforts and work with the Grand Mufti of the Muslims of the Caucasus, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, aimed at the resolution of this issue. It is our responsibility to exhort our peoples, to assist the presidents of our countries to continue peacefully toward the solution of the problems and final resolution of the issue. We remain hopeful that common efforts to overcome the present challenges and the securing of a peaceful and creative life in the Caucasus region will be crowned with the desired success, and the harmonious life and experience of cooperation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples will once again sprout with seedlings of peace. We pray to see that beautiful day, when all closed borders in the region will be open, and the travel of peoples, free; just as in the past when we had the opportunity to visit Baku and provide service for a short period of time to our Armenian church there. Let us remain faithful to the commandment of Christ’s apostle, which is also a call directed to all humanity: "Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you." II Corinthians 13:11.

Offering our prayers for peace and welfare in the lives of all peoples, we once again welcome the convening of this summit and wish success to its work.

It is with love that we extend an invitation to convene the next World Summit of Religious Leaders in Armenia, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Conveying our respect and thanks once again, we invite His Excellency Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, the Grand Mufti of the Muslims of the Caucasus, to visit the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

May the blessings of the Most High God protect the world, and may heavenly wisdom illuminate us – the religious and political leaders of the world – to continue toward the blessed shelters of peace, goodness and virtue.