As a part of the Islamic world with its religious belief and traditions, Azerbaijan attaches great importance to relations with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (Organization of Islamic Conference). Aiming at strengthening the Islamic solidarity among member states, making efforts to eliminate religious discrimination, supporting cooperation in the scientific, cultural, socioeconomic spheres, removing colonialism, OIC is one of the influential institutions in the world for the number of members and organization.
OIC is the first international organization Azerbaijan joined as an independent subject of international law. To experts, admission of Azerbaijan to this organization was very necessary for our country, undergoing Armenian aggression and having weak propaganda tools, to inform the world of its fair position, have attitude of the Organization on the Armenia-Azerbaijani conflict, get support of the Islamic states.  

The events this organization held later showed OIC backs Azerbaijan in the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. One of the most substantial steps taken in this course can be considered the adoption of 2 important resolutions in the 7th summit of heads of OIC member countries’ state and government in Casablanca, December 13-14, 1994. The first resolution firmly condemned the Armenian aggression to Azerbaijan, demanded putting an end to this aggression, stated inaccessibility of appropriation of a territory by use of force and for the first time assessed Armenia as an aggressor on the international level.  

The second resolution envisaged an economic and humanitarian help to Azerbaijan that had more than a million refugees because of the Armenian aggression. The final declaration adopted by the Organization included a large chapter on Armenia’s aggression to Azerbaijan.  

The 24th conference held in Jakarta on December 9-13, 1996 changed the titles of the above mentioned resolutions from “On the conflict between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan” into “On the aggression of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Azerbaijan”. That was a significant achievement for Azerbaijan.

The 26th conference of OIC foreign ministers in Ouagadougou, June 28-July 1, 1999 adopted 3 resolutions titled “On the aggression of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Azerbaijan”, “Rendering an economic aid to the Republic of Azerbaijan”, “On destruction of the Islamic historical and cultural monuments in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a result of the aggression of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Azerbaijan”.

Dushanbe meeting of OIC foreign ministers held on May 18-20, 2010 adopted a resolution “On destruction of the Islamic cultural and holy monuments and buildings in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a result of the aggression of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Azerbaijan”.

Relations of Azerbaijan with the Organization are not limited with talks for the settlement of the conflict only. Cooperation based on mutual interests are enhancing in different directions.

Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, plays a special role in the development of cultural relationship between Azerbaijan and OIC. Thanks to her activities, Baku was declared the capital of Islamic culture in 2009.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received newly elected Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Iyad bin Amin Madani, March 5, 2014. Noting an active cooperation of Azerbaijan within the Organization, the President expressed hope for the successful continuation of this cooperation.

Laman Khalilova
Azerbaijan Realities