President Aliyev: Our initiatives aim to make Islamic countries closer to each other
Just few days prior to the upcoming 4th Islamic Solidarity Games -- multi-sport event uniting the Islamic world in Azerbaijan, a delegation led by Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef AlOthaimeen visited Baku.
Yousef Al-Othaimeen was initially received by President Ilham Aliyev on May 3, who stressed that relations with the OIC constitute an important part of Azerbaijan's foreign policy and that the country is an active member of this organization.
The head of state noted that in recent years Azerbaijan has hosted a number of OIC-related events at a ministerial level. The President said Azerbaijan is actively fighting against Islamophobia. "Solidarity and cooperation between Muslim countries is one of the most important issues on our political agenda. Our initiatives in this regard are serving a noble aim – to make Islamic countries closer to each other in political, economic and other areas," he noted.
Saying Azerbaijan has always been in solidarity with brotherly Muslim countries at international organizations, especially in the United Nations, President Aliyev hailed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation`s strong support for Azerbaijan.
The head of state said the people of Azerbaijan highly appreciate a decision to launch a contact group on Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan at the last summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the organization's just position on the conflict.
"This position is playing an important role in building a solid foundation of the relations between Azerbaijan and the OIC," he said, expressing his confidence that the country`s relations with the organization will further strengthen at bilateral and international levels.
President Aliyev noted that declaration of 2017 as a Year of Islamic Solidarity in Azerbaijan and the country`s hosting the Islamic Solidarity Games in the coming days will strengthen unity between Muslim countries and peoples.
In turn, Yousef Al-Othaimeen said that Azerbaijan is an important member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Islamic family in political, economic, cultural, social areas and in terms of cooperation among young people.
“This is extremely important," he said. "Development processes and tolerance in Azerbaijan are an example to the Islamic world. Renovation works, green spaces and cleanliness in Baku amazed me. Azerbaijan is a very beautiful country."
Speaking about the Islamic Solidarity Games that will be hosted by Azerbaijan, Secretary General of OIC described them as a highly important international sporting event.
Yousef Al-Othaimeen stressed that the Games created very good opportunities for all Muslim countries to participate in this event and familiarize themselves with ongoing development processes in Azerbaijan.
Up to 3,000 athletes from 57 countries will compete in the Games scheduled for May 12-22. The competitions will be held in 20 sports in 17 sports arenas.
The opening ceremony of the Games will take place on May 12. However, the Games will start on May 8 with a football tournament.
At the meeting with Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov later on this day, Secretary General of the Organization said that Azerbaijan has become an excellent venue for hosting events on inter-religious tolerance and intercultural dialogue.
The sides hailed the development of high level cooperation between Azerbaijan and OIC.
Mammadyarov noted that Azerbaijan pays special attention to the comprehensive development of relations with the OIC and in this regard, characterized the OIC as a unique platform in advancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the Islamic World.
The FM stressed Azerbaijan’s interest in enhancing the OIC’s role in the international arena and said that during its presidency in the UN Security Council, at the initiative of Azerbaijan a high-level meeting of the Security Council convened on the theme of “Strengthening partnership synergy between the UN and OIC”.
He added that the initiative itself demonstrates the strategic nature of the OIC-Azerbaijan partnership, as well as contributes to the enhancement of the OIC-UN cooperation.
Mammadyarov put special accent to unambiguous and unanimous condemnation by the OIC the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and support for the “Justice for Khojaly” International Campaign. He also talked about the importance of establishment of the Contact Group on Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan at the OIC Istanbul Summit in April 2016.
The Azerbaijani minister mentioned that Armenia is pursuing the policy of destruction of Islamic cultural heritage and places of worships in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, he recalled the relevant resolutions adopted by the OIC and stressed the importance of efforts by all member states to make Armenia end the vandalism acts.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Yousef Al-Othaimeen, for his part, appreciated praiseworthy efforts of Azerbaijan for promoting Islam as a religion of peace, cooperation and friendship and presenting true values of Islam.
He reiterated the OIC firm support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.
The sides also exchanged views on development of sectoral cooperation, structural reforms within the OIC and cooperation with the other international organizations.