From Monsignor Khaled Akasheh, Bureau chief for Islam at the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue

His Excellency Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency,

I have been privileged to represent the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, Vatican City, at the 2nd Baku Summit of World Religious Leaders, you called on in Baku on November 14 and 15, 2019.

You also gave your patronage and support to this particular event, participating along with the First Lady, H.E. Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, and your daughter Leyla Aliyeva, in the Opening ceremony. You were kind enough as well to invite the participants in the Summit to an Official dinner, and to be present at it along with your wife and daughter.

You wanted to give to the Summit another particular aim: to honor an eminent figure of your nation: His Virtue Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

You know, Your Excellency, that the energies and the resources of a country can be spent in several manners. In the case of the Summit, the hard work, the organizing capacities, the dedication of numerous Azeris, along with important resources, have been put at the service of a noble goal: promoting understanding, mutual respect and friendship among religious leaders and intellectuals belonging to diverse religions of the world. The wonderful atmosphere that reigned among the participants reflected the peaceful and harmonious relations existing among the diverse religious communities of Azerbaijan under your guidance.

For all these good deeds, I would like to express to Your Excellency my profound gratitude and heartfelt appreciation.

I invoke on you, your family and your nation divine protection and abundant blessings.

Monsignor Khaled Akasheh

Bureau chief for Islam at the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue