The U.S. president's decision to recognize Jerusalem (al-Quds) as the capital of Israel, which runs contrary to international law and the UN Security Council resolution, and to move the country’s embassy to this city causes a great concern, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
President Ilham Aliyev made the remarks at the extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the issue of Jerusalem in Istanbul on Dec. 13, APA reported.
The Azerbaijani president noted that this decision could negatively affect a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, lead to dangerous consequences in the Middle East.
“We believe that the U.S. should reconsider its decision on Jerusalem,” he added.
The president stressed that Azerbaijan supports the resolution of the conflict on the basis of two-state principles with recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
He recalled that several years ago Azerbaijan held the founding conference of the Islamic Financial Security Network for aid to the Palestinian state and a donor conference for supporting the development of the city of Jerusalem.
The president also said that in July 2017 Baku hosted an international conference on the issue of Jerusalem, which was attended by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OIC and various non-governmental and civil society organizations. “The conference ended with the adoption of a final declaration which condemns the occupation of East Jerusalem and the restrictions imposed on worshipers at Al-Aqsa mosque,” he added.
Ilham Aliyev noted that the people of Azerbaijan, as always, stand by the Palestinian people.
“Azerbaijan contributes greatly to Islamic solidarity and is an active OIC member,” he said.
The head of state mentioned that the OIC Youth Forum, the OIC Labor Center and the Association of Journalists of the OIC member-states were established on the initiative of Azerbaijan.
He recalled that the year 2017 was declared the “Year of Islamic Solidarity” in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is at the forefront of countries that are actively fighting Islamophobia, stressed President Aliyev.
The president also referred to the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games held in Azerbaijan this year.
“This wonderful holiday of sport, friendship and brotherhood once again demonstrated to the whole world that Islam is a religion of peace, mercy and equality,” he said, adding. “The forthcoming international conference in Baku dedicated to the “Year of Islamic Solidarity” will be another opportunity to strengthen cooperation and mutual support.”
“The Istanbul summit, initiated by Turkish President Erdogan, is another manifestation of this country’s contribution to the Islamic solidarity,” Ilham Aliyev concluded.
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