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Elmar Mammadyarov addresses meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers

26 September 2009 11:42 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Lachin Sultanova â€“ APA. Azerbaijanâ€™s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov addressed the annual coordination meeting of OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) Foreign Ministers in New York on September 25, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministryâ€™s press service told APA. Elmar Mammadyarov said in line with the ten-year action program of the OIL, the member states should once more confirm the Islamic solidarity and increase their support for those who are in need.
â€œThe situation in Palestine and Al Quds Al -Sharif is still the important issue for the Islamic world and requires unique position of the OIC member states. Azerbaijan supports the efforts of the Palestinians to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with its capital Al Quds,â€ he said.

The Minister expressed his gratitude to the Islamic world and OIC Secretary General for supporting Azerbaijanâ€™s fair position and elimination of the consequences of the aggression.
â€œAs a result of this aggression approximately 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories has been occupied by Armenians. About one million Azerbaijanis have been displaced in the aftermath of the ethnic cleansing, thousands of historical, cultural and Islamic monuments were destroyed. Azerbaijan continues to support peaceful solution of the conflict basing on the norms and principles of the international law, related resolutions of the UN and OIC, documents and decisions of OSCE. Therefore we attach special importance to the consideration of situation in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. It is in the competence of this universal organization to issue a warning that occupation of the territories of sovereign states and the situation following it will never be considered legal. Thatâ€™s why Azerbaijan believes that OIC member states will always support our countryâ€™s actions and initiatives,â€ he said.

Elmar Mammadyarov mentioned that Baku was declared the Islamic Culture Capital for 2009 and Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers will be held in Baku on October 13-15.
â€œI invite OIC member states to this conference. Another important event that will be held in Baku within the framework of OIC is the conference â€œDialogue among civilizations: view from Azerbaijanâ€. The conference will be held on November 11-12,â€ he said.

Elmar Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan put forward its candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in 2012-2013.
â€œThe membership election will be held in the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in 2011. Taking into account the importance of OICâ€™s representation in the UN Security Council we hope the member states will support Azerbaijanâ€™s candidacy,â€ he said.

Elmar Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan officially applied to the General Secretariat to hold the 13th Summit of Islamic Conference in Baku in 2014.