AZERBAIJAN HOSTS 33RD SESSION OF OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS TODAY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 19 2006

The 33rd session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Foreign
Ministers started in Azerbaijan today. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham
Aliyev made an opening speech at the session (APA).

Mr.Aliyev said Azerbaijan is taking an active part in the ongoing
processes in the world as well as in regional projects.

"The session will also focus on the issues Azerbaijan are concerned
about. We are concerned about the processes ongoing in the world.

Thus, Islam is made the same with terror by Western media and some
political circles. We cannot consent to this. Islam is the religious
of prosperity and peace. Islam cannot possibly be regarded as the same
with terror. Azerbaijan is the victim of terror. Armenians committed at
least 30 terrorist acts in Azerbaijan killing over 2,000 people. Terror
has neither a religion nor a nation," the Azerbaijani President said.

Aliyev attached great importance to civilizations, interreligious
dialogue. Stating that Azerbaijan is speedily joining the democratic
processes, the head of state noted that any national and religious
discrimination is unacceptable.

"We’ll express our stance and clarify this issue as a result of the
efforts by the Organization of the Islamic Conference," he said.

Highly appreciating holding of such a distinguished event in Baku,
President Aliyev spoke about the background of Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan has gained its independence for 15 years. There exists
civil solidarity, economical and political stability in Azerbaijan.

The Gross Domestic Product increased by 26 percent in the country
last year. This figure reached to 40% in the past five months of this
year. In addition, poverty reducing programs are being implemented
in Azerbaijan. However, there are some problems that Azerbaijan
cannot solve it by its own. It is in great need of support by the
Organization of the Islamic Conference member states. One of these
problems is Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan which resulted in
at least one million people becoming refugees and internally displaced
persons. Armenians keep on destroying historical and cultural heritage
in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. This is the act of vandalism
by Armenians.

We support peaceful solution of this problem. However, we cannot
consent to this reality. Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has
been recognized by the entire world. Despite the UN Resolutions on
the solution of the Nagorno Garabagh problem they lack mechanism
of implementation. Azerbaijan has never accepted the violation of
its territorial integrity. Armenians came to our lands in the 19th
century. Nagorno Garabagh is ancient Azerbaijani territory," President
Aliyev underlined.