ARMENIAN AND AZERI RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAD TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

Chairman of the spiritual board of the Muslims of the Caucasus Allahshukur Pashazade and Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II had the first telephone conversation within the last 15 years. As reported by “Arka” agency referring to the information provided by the spiritual board, the uneasiness about the fate of Azeri serviceman Elmeddin Abiyev captured by the Karabakh party January 8 gave an occasion for it. A.Pashazade reminded Catholicos that the importance of contribution to releasing prisoners of war and hostages was noted during the talks between the religious leaders, as well as in the documents adopted. A.Pashazade emphasized that Echmiadzin’s efforts to release E.Abiyev would become a good basis for the forthcoming meeting of the religious leaders of the two parties. In his turn Garegin II assured that he would do his best to release the military captive and would address the corresponding letter to Armenian president Robert Kocharian. Let us note that Elmeddin Abiyev was taken prisoner on the contact line between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan when an Azeri diversion and intelligence group attempted to penetrate into the NKR territory January 8.