Azerbaijan: a Republic Navigating Peace and Reconciliation in a world at war.
Take a look at any wall map of the world. Set your gaze right in the middle of all the countries and you will likely be looking at the Caucasus region. This is a part of the world where East meets West. A place where the oldest faith traditions have existed in peace for millennia. A place where just 35 years ago 15 former Soviet nations came out from under the stronghold rule of the former USSR.
For most of the 15 Nations, this coming out represented their declaration of Independence. But for one of those nations, it was a redeclaration, a renewal of Independence that they had previously enjoyed for a very long time. Azerbaijan, the Land of Fire, is a republic of great diversity, great resilience, and great history. Known for its antiquities, its oil and gas reserves, and its role as an international convener across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia– Azerbaijan is a nation worth knowing about.
On October 8th, the American Center was privileged to host some key Arizona leaders with his Excellency, Khazar Ibrahim, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States. These leaders shared about their lives and roles in Arizona, and their perspectives on the importance of the prophetic voice in foreign policy affairs.
The gathering was led by Dr. Jannah Scott, CEO of the American Center and their newest board member, Matthew Welch, a recent transplant from Seattle and associate with the National Prayer Breakfast. We are grateful to the Arizona Faith Network for their partnership in helping us bring this group together. In attendance was:
• Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of First Institutional Baptist Church & 2026 Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry Heritage Award Honoree
• Cloves Campbell, Publisher, Arizona Informant
• Connie Robinson, Founder, 48 Arizona Women and Executive Vice President, Arizona Center for African American Resources
• Pastor Gerald Richard, President Arizona Faith Network
• Reverend Dr. Katie Sexton, CEO Arizona Faith Network
• Gerrit Steenblik, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and AFN Board Secretary
• Rabbi Andy Green, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Or Tzion, & President, Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis
• Imam Maruf Rahman, United Islamic Center of Arizona
These leaders shared their perspectives on the state of Arizona and world affairs today. When the Ambassador spoke, he emphasized the strengths and resilience of his nation amid a historically volatile part of the world. Among the elements he mentioned as most influential to the successful navigation that Azerbaijan has achieved include:
• The state policy of religious harmony, identified in the nation’s Constitution as the state policy of multiculturalism. It has been a governing principle of how Christians, Jews, Muslims and other faith traditions live in peace and harmony in a 90% Muslim majority nation.
• The importance of education as a key element to countering violent extremism. He emphasized the nation’s investment in education for all its people through their sovereign wealth fund as a strategic element of their counterterrorism policy.
• The resilience of the Azerbaijani people. After 30 years of war with neighboring Armenia, where poverty, isolation and extreme suffering took place, the Azerbaijani people remain strong and supportive of one another, and at the foreign policy levels between these nations, the work has begun to see true peace and reconciliation manifest for this current and future generations.
Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr is not new to global affairs. His ministry and work in Jesus and Justice have taken him across the globe. His response to the ambassador’s comments reflected the encouragement we all sensed. “Ambassador Ibrahim gave me hope for our divisive, violent world when he said that Azerbaijan chooses to be truthful while surrounded by dangerous conflict and war” stated Stewart.
Matt Welch, American Center board member, was especially impressed with the ambassador’s response to dealing with potential counterterrorism pressures: “The best way to counter extremism is education of our youth so they are literate and not easily swayed by outside ideologies”. said Ambassador Ibrahim. The importance of education cannot be overstated in foreign countries and here at home.
Pastor Gerald Richard was moved by the staunch independence of this relatively small nation (small based on population). Ambassador Ibrahim shared how their relations with countries are not based on others’ relations with those countries. This reflects on the fairness and resilience of the Azerbaijani people.
Connie Robinson, who works internationally with the 48 Arizona Women organization, closed out the meeting by sharing about the potential for international 48 women partnerships between Azerbaijan and Arizona. The ambassador was pleased to hear about this effort. As he stated, “Azerbaijan gave its women the right to vote in 1918 (2 years before the US). Women make up 60% of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the chairperson/speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, is a woman.”
Interesting fact: the Ambassador is a huge fan of the rodeo! So, when he saw Cloves Campbell arrive with his cowboy hat, boots and dressed in cowboy attire for an upcoming event, the Ambassador just had to share some side conversations with him about his love for the sport. He was very interested in attending the next Arizona Black Rodeo, God willing.
After numerous meetings with diplomats, legislators, businesspeople, academics and even some students, Ambassador Ibrahim chose to spend his last official gathering of this visit in candid conversation with people of faith. Please join us in prayer for the ambassador, his family, the nation of Azerbaijan, and its geopolitical neighbors–that the spirit of Jesus would be evident in the lives of everyone– pray that He who is the Prince of Peace will usher in peace in the Caucasus region for generations to come!
For more information on the American Center and its work with Azerbaijan, please contact Dr. Jannah Scott at CEO@acrfglobal.org
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