OIC Journal publishes interview with Azerbaijani FM Mammadyarov
Baku, December 13 (AZERTAC). Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov was interviewed by the OIC journal, the official publication of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
According to the Ministry`s press service, the journal was presented at the 40th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on December 9-11 in Guinea.
The Minister first answered the question on the country`s election as the non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He noted that Azerbaijan, which has gained a non-permanent seat in the Security Council for the two-year term by winning 155 votes, aimed at safeguarding the rule of international law and justice in line with the UN charter. The Minister pointed out Azerbaijan held presidency in the Council two times.
Mammadyarov touched upon the Azerbaijan`s first presidency assumed in May 2012. He noted that the high-level meeting of the Security Council on the fight against terrorism was presided over by President Ilham Aliyev. The Minister said the special meeting on strengthening the partnership synergy between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was held during the second presidency in October 2013.
Mammadyarov provided an insight into the resolutions and documents adopted to safeguard international peace and security adopted during Azerbaijan`s Security Council presidency. He recalled the Africa trip of the Security Council members,
During its second Presidency, UN Security Council members visited Africa, a trip initiated by Azerbaijan to see the challenges on the ground for themselves. While in Africa, the UN Security Council held a joint meeting with the African Union`s Peace and Security Council to discuss the situation in the Great Lakes region, including Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Central African Republic etc.
Asked about the Azerbaijan`s activity within the OIC, its role in the dialogue of civilizations and religions, the Minister noted that Azerbaijan as part of the Islamic civilization shares its progressive heritage.
Mammadyarov went on to say that cooperation with the OIC is one of the Azerbaijani foreign policy`s priorities and gave a background of the joint projects.
On the dialogue among civilizations, Mammadyarov said that peaceful co-existence and tolerance have always been lifestyle of the people of Azerbaijan throughout its history. He underlined Azerbaijan has turned into the country hosting international events on the dialogue among cultures and religions.
On the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the Minister noted that Armenia occupied Azerbaijani lands and conducted ethnic, cultural and religious purge against the people of Azerbaijan. According to him, the OIC member countries strongly condemned Armenia`s aggressive policy and demanded withdrawal of the Armenian troops for the occupied territories. This stance was set forth in the documents of the OIC Cairo summit. He added the Cairo summit also recognized the Khojaly atrocities as the act of genocide and outrage on humanity.
The Head of the Azerbaijan`s foreign office hailed the activity of outgoing OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and wished him every success in his activities. At the same time, he expressed confidence for close cooperation with the incoming secretary general Iyad bin Amin Madani.
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