Details added (first version posted on 17:31)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.14
Trend:
As a G-20 member, brotherly Turkey has been making serious contribution to the global development in recent years thanks to its growing influence on the international arena, said Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev.
He made the remarks while addressing the first session of the 13th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul Apr.14.
President Aliyev expressed gratitude to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the invitation to the summit and excellent organization of the event.
"I wish Turkey success during the period of its presidency in the OIC," said President Aliyev and expressed gratitude to the OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani for his efforts for the organization's development.
He added that the cooperation with Islamic states is a priority for Azerbaijan.
President Aliyev pointed out that around ten meetings of culture, tourism, education, foreign, labor and other ministers of OIC member states have been held in Baku in recent years.
"I praise the activities of the OIC towards mutual support and solidarity," said the president.
"Currently, Islamophobia is one of the serious threats in the world. We strongly condemn this tendency," said President Aliyev. "In reality, Islam is a religion of peace, mercifulness, tolerance and justice."
He said identifying Islam with terror is a wrong and biased attitude, adding that Muslim states most of all suffer from terror.