Azerbaijani media disseminate groundless speculations on religious issuesMay 19, 2009 - 19:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijani media disseminated information that a student from Echmiadzin religious seminary was expelled because of visiting Blue Mosque in Yerevan. For verifying such reports, a PanARMENIAN.NET correspondent turned to Holy See St. Echmiadzin Press Service. As reported by Father Gevorg, President of Sevan Religious Seminary, "Students cannot be expelled because of visiting mosques. They study theology and are entitled to visit mosques or religious institutions and temples representing other beliefs. One student was expelled from seminary for indecent conduct."For receiving further comments, the PanARMENIAN.NET correspondent turned to Blue Mosque press service. This is how person-in-charge for the Mosque Shapur Lotvi commented upon Azerbaijani media reports, "With all responsibility, I deny such information. Blue Mosque is open to everybody regardless nationality and belief. We maintain friendly ties with Armenian clergy, and receive them several times per year. Hence, statements on a seminary student being expelled because of attending mosque is groundless." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |