On June 7, 2022, a delegation
from the Republic of Azerbaijan, headed by the Deputy Chairman of
the State Committee of the Association of Religions of the Republic
of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ahib Nagiyev, visited Tbilisi Theological
Academy and Seminary.
The delegation, members of which
were Mr. Agil Shirinov - Rector of the Institute of Theology of
Azerbaijan, Ms. Elnara Karimova - Head of the Analytical Department
of the State Committee of the Association of Religions of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Jahandar Alifzade - Head of the
Department for Work with Religious Organizations of the State
Committee of the Association of Religions of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, Mr. Fakhri Hajiyev - Head of the Department of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr.
Nariman Orujaliev - Head of the Department of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Vusal Mammadov -
Head of the Department of the State Committee for Work with the
Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was received by the Rector
of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Protopresbyter Giorgi
Zviadadze.
The meeting was attended by the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Azerbaijan to Georgia Mr. Faig Guliyev. The meeting was also
attended by the Vice-Rector for Educational and Administrative
Affairs of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Archpriest
Besarion Tsintsadze, Academic Secretary of the Doctorate,
Archpriest Bidzina Gunia, Assistant of the Rector for Institutional
Development and Quality Assurance, Mrs. Tamar Sanikidze, Head of
Public Relations and Strategic Communications Mrs. Mariam Topuria,
Head of the Department of International Relations Mrs. Lali
Khuchua.
The Rector, Protopresbyter Giorgi
Zviadadze sincerely thanked the guests for the visit. He emphasized
the history of Georgian-Azerbaijani relations and the importance of
deepening these relations. He spoke about the history of relations
between the leaders of the two states, spiritual leaders and
peoples, friendship between the former presidents of Azerbaijan and
Georgia - Heydar Aliyev and Eduard Shevardnadze. He also mentioned
the importance of tolerance in the modern world and the leading
role of the spiritual leaders - Sheik-ul-Islam Allah-Shukur
Pasha-Zadeh and the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, as well as
that of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan in this
significant process, especially in the Caucasus. The Rector spoke
about their friendly, warm attitude towards representatives of
other religions, other nations.
The Rector introduced the guests
with the history of the school, talked about its past and future,
the traditions of theological education in Georgia. He noted that
the signing of a memorandum with the Theological Institute of
Azerbaijan was important and would bring good results in terms of
education and science.
The meeting took place in a warm
atmosphere. The head of the delegation, Mr. Ahib Nagiyev, thanked
Father Giorgi for the warm reception and spoke about the relations
between the Azerbaijani and Georgian peoples in various fields, the
religious tolerance of the Azerbaijani Government and Azerbaijani
people. He expressed hope that this relationship would develop and
deepen in the future. Mr. Agil Shirinov - Rector of Azerbaijan
Institute of Theology - noted that the signing of a memorandum with
Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary would be beneficial for
both parties.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Georgia, Mr. Faig
Guliyev thanked Father Giorgi for the warm reception and spoke
about the necessity and importance of such meetings.
At the end of the meeting, the
guests and the hosts handed each other commemorative gifts.