On August 13th President Ilham Aliyev received ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions of Muslim countries in Azerbaijan on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.
The President said the number of Muslim countries` ambassadors in Azerbaijan was increasing yearly, adding: "We have close cooperation with Muslim countries."
"These relations cover all areas on a bilateral format, and continue being expanded."
The Head of State mentioned Azerbaijan`s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, praising Muslim countries` support of Azerbaijan`s membership bid.
President Ilham Aliyev said official Baku "always feels support of Muslim countries with regard to the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict".
The President said the first country to recognize the Khojaly genocide was a Muslim country - Pakistan, and thanked Pakistan`s leadership for their position.
He noted the OSCE sent a fact-finding mission to Azerbaijan`s occupied territories and witnessed that Armenians destroyed mosques and other sacred monuments there.
President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan attached a particular emphasis to Islamic unity, adding "declaration of Baku an Islamic culture capital is a manifestation of the Islamic world`s great support of Azerbaijan".
"Islamic values are very dear to us. Islamic values lie at the heart of our national values," said the Head of Stated.
He said Azerbaijan backed the position of the Arab League concerning the Middle East processes.
The Azerbaijani leader stressed the importance of fighting against anti-Islamic rumors on a global scale. "Associating Islam with terror is a big sin, a big crime."
The President asked the Muslim ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions to convey his Ramadan greetings to their heads of state and government.
Turkish ambassador Hulusi Kilic thanked President Ilham Aliyev on behalf of Muslim countries` ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions.
The ambassador praised Azerbaijan`s economic development, saying its economy continued to grow even amid the global financial crisis.
Hulusi Kilic said national leader Heydar Aliyev`s policy was successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev.
He emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan`s becoming a UN Security Council member.
The ambassador touched upon Azerbaijan`s hosting the Eurovision song contest, noting the event was excellently organized. He stressed the importance of the International Mugham Festival, adding it also aroused great interest.
The Turkish diplomat praised the Muslim world`s position on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

AzerTAc