Speech by Ilham Aliyev at receptions of ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions of Muslim countries in Azerbaijan

Dear ambassadors, our meetings in the blessed month of Ramadan have become traditional in nature.

First of all, let me ask you to convey my greetings and best wishes to the heads of state and government of the countries you represent.

Azerbaijan has very close ties with the countries you represent. We actively cooperate in a bilateral format and also support each other in the international arena. In particular, our cooperation with the countries you represent in the UN and other international organizations is very successful.

As you know, Azerbaijan is an active member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Through this organization Azerbaijan has hosted many representative events. The summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in Turkey last year saw its members once again express their support for Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, in turn, supports Muslim countries in all international organizations. Very important steps were taken at last year's summit. A decision was adopted regarding the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has adopted many documents and resolutions in connection with the conflict, which support the fair position of Azerbaijan. Last year, a Contact Group was set up in connection with Armenia’s aggression, and we highly appreciate this. The support and solidarity shown by Muslim countries is very important for us. I am grateful to the members of the organization for this support.

Armenia has been keeping Azerbaijani lands under occupation for many years, blatantly violating all international norms, ignoring the four resolutions of the UN Security Council, destroying all our historical and religious monuments on the occupied territories, and there are many documents and video materials confirming it. As a result of Armenian occupation, over a million Azerbaijanis have become refugees and displaced persons in their native land. The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved only in accordance with the norms and principles of international law and within the framework of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

We demonstrate the realities associated with the conflict in all international organizations and bring them to the attention of the world community. Of course, we are also informing the public in Muslim countries, so that our brothers living in these countries could see what atrocities the Armenians have committed in the occupied lands.

This barbarism is committed not only against Azerbaijan, but against the entire Muslim world. The mosque recently erected in the village of Jojug Marjanli, which was liberated from occupation, repeats the architecture of the Shusha mosque. The Armenians have destroyed Shusha mosques, Agdam mosques, the mosques of other our cities under occupation. This is a crime against the entire Muslim world. We want all Muslims of the world to know this.

Azerbaijan contributes to strengthening Islamic solidarity. As you know, this year was declared a "Year of Islamic Solidarity" in Azerbaijan. Many events have been held in our country and elsewhere this year. The announcement of this year as a “Year of Islamic Solidarity" reflects our policy and demonstrates our intentions. I am absolutely convinced that we as Muslim countries should address the problems existing between us peacefully and by strengthening our solidarity.

This year, Azerbaijan has hosted the Fourth Games of Islamic Solidarity. The athletes of the countries you represent took part in these Games in Azerbaijan. We had many guests. I am sure that they have returned to their countries with the most pleasant impressions. The Games of Islamic Solidarity are not just a sporting competition. We wanted these Games to unite the Islamic world. While in Baku, the athletes and guests lived like one family, and I am sure that Islamic solidarity reached the highest peak during those days. We must try to maintain this solidarity at this high level. I am sure that it will be so.

My warm greetings and wishes of success to all of you again!