President Vladimir Putin and leader of Azerbaijani Muslims Sheikh-ul-Islam Khadji Allahshukyur Pashazade.
President Putin highly praised the wise and balanced position of the religious leaders in Azerbaijan and in the Caucasus, and said that due to this balanced position they were able to prevent the escalation of many regional conflicts into sectarian violence.
See also
Official Visit to Azerbaijan
January 9 − 10, 2001