PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVED AMBASSADORS OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES IN BAKU ON THE OCCASION OF HOLY RAMADAN

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku -APA. On September 17 President Ilham Aliyev has received
ambassadors of Muslim countries in Baku on the occasion of upcoming
Ramadan Holiday, press service of the President told APA. The
president congratulated the diplomats on Holy Ramadan and asked to
deliver his sincere wishes to the heads of states and governments of
their countries. President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijani people always
celebrated this holy holiday, which started to be celebrated officially
after that the country reached its independence. Independent Azerbaijan
established diplomatic relations with all countries, including Muslim
countries at the high level. The president highly appreciated the
cooperation within the international organizations. He emphasized the
successful cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Conference
and said it was important to strengthen Islamic solidarity.

President Aliyev spoke about the successful development of Azerbaijan
and touched upon the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He
said despite that Azerbaijan tried to solve the problem through
negotiations, there were no results yet. "This problem should be
solved within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and occupied
lands should be liberated".

Iraqi ambassador to Azerbaijan Arshad Omar Ismayil congratulated the
Azerbaijani president on the occasion of upcoming Ramadan Holiday
on behalf of the ambassadors. He said they witnessed how Azerbaijan
became an economic and cultural center of the South Caucasus and
successful policy led to the strong economic development in the
country. Stability and security in Azerbaijan increases its importance
for the Caucasian region. "Azerbaijan is a tolerant country where
representatives of different faiths live comfortably. Muslim countries
are always supporting Azerbaijan. All Muslim countries advocate for
the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and the norms of international law".