Relations between Azerbaijanand the Organization of Islamic Conference


History of establishment of the Organization of Islamic Conference: OIC is the intergovernmental organization consisting of 57 member states. Ultimate goal of the organization is to achieve well-being and development of the people in the member countries and of all Muslim population in the world. OIC was established in the conference of the heads of states and governments of Muslim countries in Rabat (Morocco) in 1969. Representatives of Muslim communities of some countries and a number of international organizations have the observer status at the OIC. OIC received observer status at UN in 1975. A "Resolution on cooperation between UN and OIC" was adopted at the 36th session of General Assembly.

The Supreme body of the OIC is the conference of the heads of states and governments. But the Executive body is the General Secretariat. The residence of the General Secretariat is temporarily located in Jidda (Saudi Arabia) until Jerusalem is liberated from the Israeli occupation.

 

Policy of the National leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev with regard to the OIC: The Azerbaijan Republic was accepted to the OIC at the Dakar summit of the heads of states and governments in 1991. OIC is the first international organization that Azerbaijan became part of. In 1991, the OIC delegation paid a visit to Azerbaijan in order to study the possibility of settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict peacefully, and had discussions with the representatives of the UN, Turkey, Armenia and Russia on these issues.

A resolution against Armenia was accepted at the XXI meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OIC countries held in Karachi in 1993.

Policy pursued by President Heydar Aliyev toward the development of the relations with the OIC, which is the second largest organization after the UN, should especially be marked in terms of using political and economic opportunities of this organization.

Since May 1994, as to the respective order of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was granted the authority of permanent representative at the OIC General Secretariat. Though the Embassy in Ar-Riyadh, a productive cooperation was launched with the OIC General Secretariat, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as well as with the Islamic Development Bank.

On December 12, 1994 there was held the VII summit of the OIC in Morocco. The President Heydar Aliyev left for Casablanca of Morocco to take part in this summit. President of Azerbaijan made a speech at the summit. By directing attention to the destruction of the ancient cultural monuments in the Nagorno-Karabakh and seven regions of Azerbaijan Republic occupied by Armenian Armed Forces Heydar Aliyev noted: "...All Mosques have been destroyed, Muslim graves have been humiliated, and copies of the holy book Koran have burnt. All tracks of the most ancient Muslim civilization are being wiped off the Earth..." The President Heydar Aliyev made a congratulatory speech on behalf of the Asian States, at the final meeting of the OIC Summit in Casablanca. A resolution on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and on economic aid to Azerbaijan was adopted at the summit. Resolution strongly condemns Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, actions committed toward the Azerbaijani civilians are considered crime against humanity, fulfillment of the resolutions of the UN and immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories are demanded. Another resolution calls international organizations to give Azerbaijan immediate humanitarian aid and financial assistance.

The President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev made a statement for press after Casablanca summit was over, and highly appreciated the resolutions adopted at the summit.

The changing of the name of the Resolution under the title of "Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan" at the 24th conference of the OIC Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Jakarta in December of 1996 and 8th summit of the OIC countries held in Tehran in December of 1997, played a great role in highlighting right position of Azerbaijan to the world community.

On December 8, 1997, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev paid a visit to Tehran to take part at the 8th summit of the OIC. Within the framework of the visit President Heydar Aliyev met with the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference Izzaddin Laraki. During the meeting, President Heydar Aliyev expressed his confidence on adoption of a special decree on the problems of Azerbaijan, at the 8th summit of the OIC.

 

In his turn Laraki said:"...The problem which Azerbaijan has faced is also our problem. Everything can be tolerated, but not the occupation of territories. Be sure that the OIC is completely on your side..."

On December 11, 1997, in his speech at the 8th summit of the Heads of the OIC countries held in Tehran, President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev said:"... During 1993-1996, Russia illegally sent to Armenia, weapons, ammunition and military equipment in the cost of one billion dollars. Furthermore, on August 29 of this year, there was signed an agreement on military cooperation between Russia and Armenia. So, becoming strong militarily, aggressive Armenia may pose a serious threat not only to Azerbaijan, but also to all countries of our region..."

New resolutions on aggression of Armenian Republic against Azerbaijan Republic and economic aid to Azerbaijan Republic were adopted at Tehran summit of the OIC. Resolution strongly condemns Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, actions committed towards the civilian Azerbaijani population are considered crime against humanity, fulfillment of the resolutions of the UN and immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories are firmly required again. The second resolution calls OIC member countries and other international organizations to provide Azerbaijan with urgent humanitarian and financial assistance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs represented Azerbaijan at the summits of the OIC which were held on November 12-13, 2000 in Doha (Qatar) and October 16-17, 2003 in Putrajaya (Malaysia). Just position of Azerbaijan was defended by the OIC and documents demanding withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani lands, respect to the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, fulfillment of the UN resolutions were adopted at these summits.

 

Policy of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev regarding the OIC: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev consolidated the cooperation with the OIC. Constituent Assembly of Youth Forum of the OIC was held in Azerbaijan in 2004. On December 7-8, 2005, the 3rd extraordinary summit of the OIC held in Mecca. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the Assembly. President Ilham Aliyev made a speech in the 3rd extraordinary summit of the OIC held in Mecca. He said: "... Organization of Islamic Conference makes systematic efforts to establish peace and tranquility in the world. At the same time, we protest against those who associate international terrorism with Islam. Such a thesis is totally false, unfounded and unacceptable..." Within the framework of his visit President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev had important meetings with Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmed Badavi, Pakistani President Parviz Mosharref, authorized representative of the Russian President in the Far Eastern Federal district Kamil Ishakov, OIC Secretary General Ekmaladdin Ihsanoglu, Chairman of Turkish Parliament Bulent Arinj and others.

On June 19-21, 2006, the 33rd session of the OIC Foreign Ministers began its work in Baku. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the session and made a speech: "...Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is recognized by the entire world except Armenia. United Nations adopted four resolutions concerning this issue. The resolutions state that Armenian Armed Forces must withdraw from the Azerbaijani lands unreservedly. Alas, these resolutions are not implemented..." In the session there was adopted another resolution about the aggression of the Armenian Republic against the Republic of Azerbaijan. Occupier motions of Armenia are condemned in this document as in the resolutions adopted before, and unconditional release of the Azerbaijan lands is required. The session also adopted a resolution on economic assistance to the Republic of Azerbaijan and the destruction of Islamic historical and cultural monuments in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan Republic as the consequence of the aggression of the Republic of Armenia. At the 33rd session, the chairmanship was passed to Azerbaijan

On October 4, 2006, President of the İSESCO Osman Al-Tuveycri visited Azerbaijan. Mehriban Aliyeva was given the title and presented the badge of goodwill ambassador of the ISESCO for her service in the development of education and the dialogue between civilizations.

On April 27, 2007, Secretary General of the OIC Ervaladdin İhsanoglu arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in an international conference on "The role of media in promoting tolerance and understanding." At the same day, the Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO Mehriban Aliyeva and ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz bin Osman Tuveycri signed a Protocol on cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and ISESCO. Protocol, which governs the basic principles of cooperation for five years, provides the development of relations in the field of science, culture and education. The 11th summit of the OIC was held in Dakar, capital of Senegal, on March 13-14, 2008. Minister of Foreign Affairs represented Azerbaijan at the summit. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan called Member states to vote for acceptance of the resolution calling to release the Azerbaijani lands occupied by Armenia. It should be noted that mostly with the vote of the OIC countries, the resolution was adopted at the UN.

In April, 2008, at the 6th session of the OIC Youth Forum held in Kuwait, Leyla Əliyeva was elected the first head coordinator on dialogue of cultures and civilizations. On May 23, 2009, the 36th meeting of the OIC countries' Foreign Ministers began its work in Damascus (in Syria). Secretary General of the OIC Ekmaladdin Ihsanoglu stated that the Azerbaijani government continues opposition against occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia and it is necessary to implement all resolutions of the UN Security Council to stop this occupation.

Baku was declared the capital of the Islam culture in 2009. Solemn opening of the culture year was on February 17, 2009. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Secretary General of the ISESCO Osman Al-Tuveycri took part in the opening ceremony. During a year Islamic culture was presented to the world in Azerbaijan. Declaring Baku the capital of the Islamic culture served to strengthen the dialogue between civilizations.

On November 11, 2009 an international conference on "Dialogue among civilizations: outlook from Azerbaijan", dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the OIC was held in Baku. OIC Secretary General Ekmaladdin Ihsanoglu said that Azerbaijan became the symbol in the area of collaboration among great civilizations. OIC Secretary General noted that the geographical location of Azerbaijan is firmly related to joining of different cultures here.

On May 18-20, 2010, meeting of the OIC member countries Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Dushanbe. Dushanbe Statement was accepted at the end of the meeting. OIC member states condemned aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan in the Statement, and called solution of the conflict in the framework of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and international level on the basis of inviolability of boundaries. Resolutions on the aggression of the Armenian Republic against the Azerbaijan Republic, destruction of cultural and holy sites of Islam in the occupied territories and economic assistance to Azerbaijan Republic were adopted. Destruction of monuments concerning Islamic history is condemned, economic and technical assistance to Azerbaijan Government is planned to remove for the liquidating the results of aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, and it is addressed to the world community to pay attention to the same problems.

 

General historical reference was compiled on June 16, 2010.