Azerbaijan, Baku, May 10 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva /
Azerbaijan's primary mission was and remains to help maintain justice and equality in international relations, to ensure respect for norms of principles of the international law and the right and freedom of sovereign nations, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt today.
"When the inherent right of a sovereign state for independent foreign policy is attacked, when aggression against sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of a sovereign nation takes place, the international community can not afford to stay neutral," he added.
"In that regard, we are pleased to see the unanimous support by the NAM member states for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan as it is enshrined in four United Nations Security Resolutions," he said.
"It is an unequivocal adherence by member states to the principles and purposes of the Movement in a practical way. This support is a crystal-clear manifestation of the fact the international community will not reconcile with the results of the aggressive use of force by Armenia against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," he said.
"Fifty years after its establishment, the NAM is playing today an important role in maintaining the international peace and security and addressing a wide range of issues from regional security to social and economic development," he said.
"As an inclusive forum for broad political consultations and practical cooperation, the NAM has enabled member countries to make consistent efforts towards a more just and prosperous world order," he said.
"Today the international community is continuing to face huge difficulties posed by different economic and financial crises, environmental problems, and regional conflicts that are often coupled with aggressive expansionist policies, terrorism, separatism, trans-national organized crime and extremism," he said.
"All these bring about new tasks in our joint endeavor of the development of the South and re-emphasize the need for greater solidarity, dialogue and cooperation within the Non-Aligned Movement," he said.
"We are committed to the letter and spirit of the principles and purposes of the Movement. Azerbaijan carries out independent foreign policy and is not party to any military alliance. Azerbaijan is a rapidly developing country with a Government that puts a special emphasis on democratization, fostering the respect for human rights and social justice," he said.
"Azerbaijan attaches a great importance to its relations within the NAM and is contributing to the promoting principles, purposes and agenda of the Movement. We are intensifying our bilateral relations with the NAM countries. Azerbaijan has initiated development aid projects for several member nations of the Movement. We are considering expanding those activities in future," he said.
"We support the comprehensive approach of the Movement which is manifested in the variety of issues reflected on our agenda today. I would like to say few words on some of those issues," he said.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov attends at the ministerial of the NAM member countries in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) on May 9-10, the ministry said.
Mammadyarov will address the ministerial and will hold a series of bilateral meetings within the event.
Azerbaijan became a member of the Non-Aligned Movement in May 2011.
The Non-Aligned Movement is the second largest political international organization for its members after the UN. It includes 118 states.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.