No:564/23, Press release on the meeting of Minister Jeyhun Bayramov with ICESCO Director-General Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik
03 October 2023 16:52
On 3 October 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik.
At the meeting, issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan and ICESCO, as well as the current situation in the region, were discussed.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, stating that our country has closely cooperated with ICESCO in the fields of promoting intercultural dialogue and combating threats such as racial discrimination and Islamophobia since the first years of the restoration of its independence, expressed his confidence that, in this regard, the opening of ICESCO’s regional center in our country in the near future will contribute to the further development of relations. It was noted with satisfaction that the city of Shusha, the cradle of culture of our country, which is known in the world for its model of multiculturalism and tolerance, has been selected as ICESCO’s “Culture Capital of the Islamic World” for 2024.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, providing the other side with detailed information about the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period, Azerbaijan’s peace and reconstruction efforts, emphasized that our country is taking practical steps towards the restoration of our religious and cultural heritage destroyed by Armenia during the conflict that lasted for nearly 30 years. The double standards we faced during the conflict, as well as in the post-conflict period, the inadmissibility of attempts to give religious overtones to the former conflict, as well as the fact that such steps do not contribute to peace and stability in the region, were emphasized.
Despite all existing difficulties and challenges, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan is determined to advance the normalization and peace agenda with Armenia, as well as the reintegration process of local Armenian residents living in the Garabagh region. In particular, it was noted that, as a result of the anti-terror measures taken, the process of disbanding and disarming the existing illegal Armenian armed forces in the region gave impetus to peace and reintegration efforts.
Director-General Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik stated that he was pleased with his visit to Azerbaijan and that a useful exchange of views was conducted during the meeting he held with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva the previous day. It was noted that ICESCO is interested in expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan, as well as that it is important to make efforts towards further strengthening relations in the future.
During the meeting, an exchange of views was also conducted on other issues of mutual interest.
