Azerbaijan allows service in Georgian church which was closed for 120 years
The local Orthodox population asked for the reopening of the church for many years. Photo: accentnews.ge.
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The Azerbaijani government has allowed the reopening of the Georgian church in the village of Kotoklo, Kakhi district, which once was the part of Georgia’s historic Hereti region and was handed to Azerbaijan back in 1921.
The church has not been functional for 120 years and the local, Orthodox population was asking for it to be reopened,” the Georgian Public Broadcaster reports.
A Georgian school has also been opened in another village of Kakhi, Alibeglo.
The school is named after famous Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli.
All pupils of the school received gifts from the Georgian government on the day, while the school administration was handed a copy of Rustaveli’s Knight in the Panther’s Skin poem.
Since 1995 Georgia and Azerbaijan have agreed on 66 per cent of the state border between the two countries, while a special commission composed of state officials from both nations continue work to achieve an agreement on the remaining 34 per cent.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has met with Azerbaijani Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva in Baku to discuss cultural issues. Zurabishvili told Aliyeva that her initiative to put Georgian tolerance on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list will benefit the whole region, as tolerance “is of a Caucasian character.”
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Zagulba Presidential Palace in Baku today on her first regional trip as president. Zurabishvili stated that the two countries started a new, independent life together after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II has addressed Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board, Sheik-ul-Islam Allahshuqur Pasha-zade, to mediate with the ‘brotherly nation’ of Azerbaijan to ‘fairly resolve issues’ in David Gareji as current actions by the country [Azerbaijan] regarding two monasteries in Georgia’s 6th century monastery complex David Gareji are ‘absolutely unclear.’
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who has launched his tour with neighbouring countries by visiting Azerbaijan, has told Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that the “visit will once again show our allies and friends that there are no problems between the two countries which have not been settled in a friendly and brotherly manner.”
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia met with his Azerbaijani counterpart, newly appointed Prime Minister Ali Asadov, as well as the Speaker of the National Assembly Ogtay Asadov during his visit to Baku today.