Baku, July 19, 2026 – The Europe Today: Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, participated in the Peace Alliance Summit held in Luanda, Angola, on July 16–17, where he underscored Azerbaijan’s commitment to peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue, and respect for international law.
The summit was convened on the sidelines of the initiative, “A Call for Peace, the End of Wars and Respect for International Law,” at the invitation of Miguel Ángel Moratinos, United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations.
The opening session featured addresses by Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi. Speakers noted that Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade was the only religious leader participating in the high-level summit.
During his visit to Angola, Sheikhulislam Pashazade held a series of bilateral meetings with Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the Presidents of Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Prime Minister of Namibia, Angola’s Foreign Minister, the Mayor of Gernika in Spain, and several other senior officials to discuss issues related to peace, intercultural dialogue, and international cooperation.
Addressing the opening ceremony of a thematic session on July 17, the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office praised the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations for its continued efforts to foster global peace, mutual understanding, and respect for international law. He also commended Miguel Ángel Moratinos for his longstanding contributions to strengthening dialogue among civilizations and promoting peaceful coexistence.
In his remarks, Sheikhulislam Pashazade highlighted Azerbaijan’s experience in advancing multiculturalism, religious tolerance, and interfaith dialogue, while emphasizing the country’s close partnership with the UN Alliance of Civilizations. He noted that the peace initiatives led by President Ilham Aliyev in support of the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process have received broad international recognition.
The Azerbaijani religious leader stressed that all holy scriptures condemn the killing of innocent people, describing such acts as crimes against all humanity. He called for preserving the memory of major human tragedies, including Guernica, Srebrenica, and Khojaly, and urged the international community to resolve ongoing conflicts through peaceful means based on international law.
He also emphasized the importance of strengthening global cooperation to prevent future conflicts and humanitarian tragedies, reaffirming the essential role of religious leaders in promoting reconciliation, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence.
The summit concluded with a thematic session titled “The Role of Religious and Faith Leaders in Promoting Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence,” during which participants exchanged views on enhancing the contribution of faith leaders to conflict prevention and sustainable peace.
