Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the first Summit on Science and Technology of Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Astana

In the name of Allah, the Gracious and the Merciful.

Dear friends!

I am very glad to be back in Kazakhstan. I think very highly of the first Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on science and technology.

Azerbaijan is an active member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Over the past few years, about 10 meetings of the ministers of foreign affairs, culture, tourism, education, labor and other ministers of the OIC member-countries have been held in Azerbaijan. We actively cooperate with member-countries of the organization both in the bilateral format and within the framework of international organizations. Azerbaijan always supports Muslim countries in international organizations it is a member of. The OIC, for its part, also provides Azerbaijan with great support and appreciates the policy pursued by our country. The OIC has always demonstrated a fair position on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of Azerbaijan, and has adopted numerous resolutions reflecting Azerbaijan's fair position.

The Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held last year established a Contact Group in connection with Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan. We appreciate this decision and express our gratitude to the OIC and its members for this fair position.

The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions in connection with the conflict. These resolutions require an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories. Armenia does not comply with these resolutions, but no sanctions are applied against it. These are double standards. Armenia has occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, native and historical Azerbaijani land, and another seven of our districts for more than 25 years. As a result of this aggression, 20 per cent of our land is under occupation and more than a million Azerbaijanis live in the situation of refugees and displaced persons in their native land. The Armenians have carried out a policy of ethnic cleansing against our people. Armenia has committed war crimes.

In 1992, Armenia committed the Khojaly genocide. As a result of this war crime, 613 peaceful Azerbaijanis were brutally murdered by Armenian fascists, including 106 women and 63 children. Thousands of people went missing and were injured. More than 10 countries have officially recognized the Khojaly genocide.

Armenian atrocities continue today. In July of this year, a two-year-old Azerbaijani child was killed together with his grandmother as a result of a projectile dropped by the Armenians. This is atrocity. This is another bloody crime of the part of Armenian fascism. At the direction of the Armenian leadership, all mosques in our occupied lands have been destroyed. Photos of the ruined mosques of Shusha, Agdam and other cities are documentary evidence of Armenian vandalism.

Islamophobia in Armenia has reached its peak. Armenia is trying very hard to expand ties with various Muslim countries. It would be wrong to believe their hypocritical and deceitful words. Armenia, which has destroyed sacred mosques in Azerbaijan, can’t be a friend of any Muslim country.

In April of last year, the heroic Azerbaijani army liberated a part of our lands from Armenian occupation. We have built a new settlement there. A school, a medical center and a mosque have been built in the village of Jojug Marjanli, which consists of 150 houses. In the village of Jojug Marjanli liberated from occupation, we have built a replica of the Shusha mosque destroyed by the Armenians. This once again demonstrates the indestructible spirit of the Azerbaijani people and our attachment to our religious values. The Armenians have destroyed our mosques. But these mosques rise in our hearts and no-one can ever destroy them.

Azerbaijan is making a great contribution to the cause of Islamic solidarity. We are vehemently fighting against Islamophobia, which seems to be raising its head in various regions around the world. We strongly condemn the crimes committed against Muslims, in particular, the facts of genocide and mass violence perpetrated against the Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar recently. We call on international organizations, the world community, political and religious leaders to take the steps necessary to stop the events taking place in Myanmar. In fact, I would like to inform you that on 8 September, Azerbaijan sent humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees – 100 tons of food.

2017 has been declared a Year of Islamic Solidarity in Azerbaijan. At the same time, the Fourth Games of Islamic Solidarity were held in Azerbaijan this year. More than 50 Muslim countries took part in this magnificent celebration of friendship and brotherhood. I am sure that about 3,000 athletes and thousands of guests left Baku with the most pleasant impressions.

Azerbaijan is a rapidly developing country. Over the past 14 years, the gross domestic product of our country has more than tripled. A total of 1.6 million jobs have been created. The poverty level has decreased to 5 per cent. Literacy is close to 100 per cent. Scientific and modern technologies are successfully developing in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is one of the few members of the space faring club.

In conclusion of my speech, I would like to note that Azerbaijan, as an active member of the OIC, will continue to contribute to the strengthening of Islamic solidarity. Thank you.