Patriarch Kirill of Russia Discusses the Karabakh Conflict

By removing the religious factor from the Karabakh conflict, we have significantly reduced the potential escalation of this conflict and its ensuing consequences. This was stated by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in an interview with the 'Russia' television channel, as reported by Artsakhpress.

"I hope that there will be peace, and I am relying on the positions of the ecclesiastical and religious authorities of both Armenia and Artsakh, as well as Azerbaijan. You know that the Russian Church initiated discussions on the Karabakh issue with the participation of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Supreme Mufti, the chief Muslim leader of Azerbaijan, Pasha-zadeh. We have held several rounds of such negotiations and have agreed on many issues. I believe that the main outcome of these negotiations is that the two spiritual leaders, backed by the majority of the people, communicated with each other, and this conversation was calm in the sense that there were no accusations or tensions. Although each had their arguments, and those arguments were expressed honestly, they were not accompanied by gritting of teeth when emotions dominate and dialogue almost turns into a verbal war. This has never happened, and it occurred because the spiritual leaders fully bear responsibility for the spiritual condition of their people.

What is this spiritual condition? Which force will prevail—peace, love, serenity or the forces of evil? The behavior of people will depend on this. Therefore, the role of religious leaders is important; we do not exaggerate it, but we also do not underestimate it. Ultimately, very clear results have been achieved during these negotiations—prisoner exchanges, religious symbols, and the non-use of religious expressions for motivating the warring sides in their actions. By removing the religious factor from this confrontation, we have certainly significantly reduced the potential extent of this conflict and its consequences. Thus, without exaggerating the role of religious leaders, we should not ignore it either.

The Russian Church is also ready to participate in this process to make its peacekeeping contribution to solving this very complex problem, which, unfortunately, at this moment could only be suspended by the presence of Russian peacekeepers. God grant that the peaceful potential of religions replaces the presence of armed individuals dividing the warring sides.