The ambassador made remarks during his visit to the Kish church in Sheki region.
Cekuta said that during his trip to the village of Krasnaya Sloboda he heard from the Mountian Jewish community about the home and support that they have found in Azerbaijan.
“But tolerance is sometimes a very fragile flower in this world. Many forces are opposed to the kind of respect for others that Azerbaijan has cultivated. In every nation, in every generation we have to keep strengthening those good tendencies and strive against the forces of intolerance,” the ambassador stressed.
The ambassador called the Kish church a success story for many people. “The staff that restored and maintains the church are exceptional and I am very grateful for their giving us a tour today. It is impressive that Thor Hyerdahl and the Government of Norway joined in to help preserve this monument. The Government of Azerbaijan also deserves credit for helping restore and maintain this cultural treasure. It illustrates the Azerbaijani history and tradition of tolerance. It is very striking to realize that this is a church being lovingly maintained and cared for in a village of Muslims,” he completed.