To the Orthodox Christian community of Azerbaijan

Dear fellow countrymen!

I would like to sincerely congratulate you on the sacred holiday of the Easter and send you my best wishes!

The Azerbaijani society, where high moral values and traditions of religious-ethnic tolerance are carefully preserved, has been living in an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust and brotherhood between different ethnicities, religions and beliefs for centuries. We regard this as a great success of our nation building policy. We consider the preservation of the spiritual and historical heritage, ethnic and cultural diversity, promotion and encouragement of public relations based on the tradition of multiculturalism as one of the main directions of our activity.

The Christian community has a special place in our multicultural and multi-religious society. I would like to note with a sense of satisfaction that all the citizens of Azerbaijan, regardless of their language, religion and ethnicity, including the Orthodox Christians, while adequately exercising their rights and freedoms, demonstrate active citizenship in the process of extensive development ongoing in our country.

The feast of Passover, which is a symbol of renewal, peace, feelings of solidarity and charity, is celebrated in Azerbaijan every year. Let this bright holiday bring joy to your families and prosperity to your lives.

Happy Easter!

Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku city, 3 May 2013