BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 17. Mosques were
the first historical and religious monuments to be restored in the
territories liberated from occupation, Gunduz Ismayilov, Deputy
Chairman of the State Committee for Relations with Religious
Organizations, told reporters, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.


Ismayilov made the remark during the conference “Preservation of
Historical and Religious Monuments: Challenges and Prospects”.


He noted that, at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev,
special attention is being paid to the restoration of historical
and religious monuments in the liberated territories.


“Mosques were the first historical and religious monuments to be
restored in the territories liberated from occupation. This is no
coincidence. Because historical and religious monuments, in
addition to being places of worship and historical landmarks,
reflect the spiritual and historical memory of the Azerbaijani
people,” Ismayilov said.


The deputy chairman noted that historical and religious
monuments are also of great importance in promoting interfaith
unity, interreligious dialogue, and multicultural values, which are
unique to Azerbaijan.


According to Ismayilov, hundreds of historical and religious
monuments in the country currently function as mosques, churches,
and synagogues, and religious communities operate at these
sites.


He also noted that the main topics of discussion at the
conference are the protection, repair, and restoration of
historical and religious monuments, their preservation for future
generations, and enhancing the role of religious communities and
clergy in this process.







“We hope that the discussions held during the conference will
mark the beginning of a new phase in the preservation of historical
and religious monuments, which are an integral part of the rich
cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people,” Ismayilov
stressed.


A conference on “Preservation of Historical and Religious
Monuments: Challenges and Prospects,” organized jointly by the
Ministry of Culture and the State Committee for Relations with
Religious Organizations, has begun in Baku.


The conference is attended by Minister of Culture Adil Karimli,
Chairman of the State Committee for Relations with Religious
Organizations Ramin Mammadov, members of the Azerbaijani
parliament, rectors of higher education institutions,
representatives of government agencies, and experts in the
field.


The main topics of discussion at the conference will include the
preservation, protection, and restoration of historical and
religious monuments in Azerbaijan; the identification of existing
challenges in this area; and ongoing efforts to preserve the
national, cultural, and religious heritage for future
generations.


The conference will feature an exchange of views on cooperation
among government agencies, religious communities, and scientific
and educational institutions in the preservation of historical and
religious monuments, the application of modern approaches to their
study and restoration, and the prospects for further work in this
area.