Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 19
Trend:
Azerbaijan aims to further strengthen relations with Islamic countries, said Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
He was addressing an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Jan. 19.
“Azerbaijan is highly interested in enhancement of OIC proactive policy and looks forward to strengthening its relations with the brotherly Islamic countries. I have the honor to underline that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a declaration announcing 2017 as the Year of Islamic Solidarity,” the foreign minister said.
“The general overview of the current situation in a number of Muslim countries remains a deep concern for all of us. This shows a necessity for reaffirming our commitment to Islamic solidarity and increasing support to those in need,” Mammadyarov added.
“We must remain consistent in defending the just cause of our member-states and protect the rights of Muslim brothers and sisters in non-Muslim countries.”
Azerbaijan, which has faced longstanding problem of refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of the military aggression of Armenia with notorious facts of occupation and ethnic cleansing, has full understanding of those who suffer from injustice, Mammadyarov noted.