Milli Majlis addresses Keshikchidagh monastery complex issue

At the plenary session of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan today, the issue of Keshikchidagh monastery complex was raised.

Report informs that MP Tahir Karimli said the friendship between the Azerbaijani and Georgian states should continue.

He noted that this friendship is based on historical tradition: "It's important for us, our way goes through Georgia. Within our sovereignty we allowed Georgian people to celebrate "Easter" holiday. They, in turn, held a rally in Keshikchidagh monastery complex and voiced slogans against Azerbaijan's statehood. They violated the law seriously and insulted us. We need to explain Georgian political figures what this is. This monument was erected in the VI century and it is a German monument. In XI, XII century, during the reign of David and Tamara, it belonged to the Georgian Orthodox religion, and today belongs to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Let it be so, but we also have many Muslim monuments in Georgia. We do not claim that wherever we have a monument, it is our land. There is a commission between the two countries on this issue. We historically gave our lands to Georgia and Armenia at the request of Russia, and now we should not compromise on Keshikchidagh monastery complex. There are more than 210 countries in the world, Azerbaijan is the only country in the world that borders with its former territories ".

MP Faraj Guliyev also noted the necessity to overcome these tensions. He said that Keshikchidagh monastery complex is the territory of Azerbaijan.

MP Ganira Pashayeva also noted that this monument should be called Keshikchidagh and it belongs to Azerbaijan:"Historical monuments is a very sensitive issue for us. We believe that this issue will be solved in the interests of Azerbaijan."