Information of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the participation of the Azerbaijani delegation in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

On March 22-23, 2022, the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on "Partnership for Unity, Justice and Development" was held in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

During the session, a wide range of issues related to the Islamic world, including the activities of the OIC General Secretariat on the implementation of resolutions on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the security situation after the last Council of Foreign Ministers in Niamey-2020 were discussed. Other political issues, in particular the events in Afghanistan and its humanitarian consequences for the Afghan people, as well as the situation in Jammu and Kashmir were also discussed at the session.

Azerbaijan was represented at the event by a delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov. Speaking at the session, the Deputy Minister informed the participants about the position of our country on a number of fundamental issues.

Within the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), four resolutions, covering political, economic and cultural issues related to the consequences of the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, were adopted: "Elimination of the consequences of the aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan", "Economic assistance to the Republic of Azerbaijan", "Destruction of historical and cultural monuments of Islamic culture in the territories of Azerbaijan as a result of the aggression of the Republic of Armenia" and "Solidarity with the victims of the Khojaly massacre." We would like to note that these resolutions, traditionally adopted annually by the OIC, include new provisions, taking into account the latest situation in the region.

The trilateral statement of November 10, 2020 on the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan as a result of retaliatory operations and the cessation of hostilities, reflected in the resolution "Elimination of the consequences of the aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan", was welcomed by the member states. A call was made for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis of sovereignty, territorial integrity and mutual recognition and respect of international borders. Armenia's continued refusal, in violation of international law, to provide comprehensive and accurate maps of all mined areas and other information on the location of mined areas, was also condemned, and the full solidarity and support of the Azerbaijani government and people in their efforts to defend their country and to overcome the severe consequences of decades of Armenian aggression and occupation have been reaffirmed.

The resolution "Destruction and insult of Islamic historical and cultural shrines in the territories of Azerbaijan as a result of the aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan" strongly condemned the destruction, looting, theft, illegal relocation or misappropriation of Islamic historical and cultural monuments and shrines in the territories of Azerbaijan during the occupation, acts of vandalism against these objects, as well as the insulting of mosques by Armenia in the newly liberated territories. The resolution affirms Azerbaijan's right to demand compensation for the damage caused to it, and Armenia's responsibility to pay this compensation.

The resolution "Economic Assistance to the Republic of Azerbaijan" states that the liberation of Azerbaijani territories will allow more than one million IDPs in Azerbaijan to return home safely and in dignity, and thus eliminate serious humanitarian problems. In this regard, member states, the Islamic Development Bank and other Islamic institutions were urged to assist the government and people of Azerbaijan in the reconstruction and restoration of liberated territories to ensure the return of IDPs to these lands. It also called on all international institutions to support Azerbaijan's economic and social development.

The resolution entitled "Solidarity with the Victims of the Khojaly Massacre" adopted at the 48th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC, strongly condemned the mass atrocities committed by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia against the Azerbaijani civilian population and military personnel in the city of Khojaly and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan in February 1992, and called on member states to make the necessary efforts to recognize at the local and international levels the crimes committed during the conflict in Khojaly and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The resolution also praised the activities of the international campaign "Justice for Khojaly" and called on member states to support the campaign and closely participate in its activities.