Alexis II: Caucasian spiritual leaders to call for peaceful settlement in region

The Caucasian spiritual leaders should issue a statement on the necessity of "peaceful and just settlement of regional problems," Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis II said opening the talks between the Russian, Georgian, Armenian and Azeri spiritual leaders in Moscow on Wednesday.

"We should firmly come out for peaceful and legal solution of the existing problems," the Patriarch said.

Alexis II called on his counterparts to elaborate common positions and principles of the Caucasian settlement.

In particular, we should work out measures to restore the centuries-old culture of good-neighborliness between the Caucasian peoples, he noted.

"We should create integration of national minorities in all spheres of public life, provide their religious freedom and a possibility to develop their culture and language," the Patriarch added.

In addition, it is necessary "to warn believers against hatred and hostility," he stressed.

Today many people, including statesmen, "expect Caucasian religious communities to actively participate in the conflict settlement," the Patriarch concluded.