Azernews.Az

President Ilham Aliyev on Monday received ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions of Islamic countries in Azerbaijan on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

The president said the number of Muslim countries' ambassadors in Azerbaijan is increasing by the year, adding that his country has close cooperation with Islamic states.

"These relations cover all areas in a bilateral format, and continue being expanded," he said.

President Aliyev mentioned Azerbaijan's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in October 2011, praising Islamic countries' support for Azerbaijan's membership bid.

Aliyev said further that Baku "has always sensed the support" of Muslim countries with regard to the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The president said the first country to recognize the Khojaly genocide of Azerbaijanis committed by Armenian armed forces during the Karabakh war in 1992 was a Muslim country - Pakistan, and thanked Pakistani leadership for its stance.

Aliyev noted that the OSCE sent a fact-finding mission to Azerbaijan's occupied territories in the past and witnessed that Armenians destroyed mosques and other holy sites there.

He said Azerbaijan attaches a particular importance to Islamic unity, adding that "the declaration of Baku an Islamic culture capital is a manifestation of the Islamic world's great support of Azerbaijan".

"Islamic values are very dear to us. Islamic values lie at the heart of our national values," Aliyev said.

He said Azerbaijan backed the position of the Arab League on the Middle East developments.

The Azerbaijani leader stressed the importance of fighting anti-Islamic sentiments on a global scale. "Associating Islam with terror is a big sin, a big crime."

The president asked the Islamic ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions to convey his Ramadan greetings to their heads of state and government.

Turkish Ambassador Hulusi Kilic thanked President Aliyev on behalf of the Muslim countries' diplomats.

The ambassador praised Azerbaijan's economic development, saying its economy continued to grow even amid the global economic crisis.

Kilic said Azerbaijani late national leader, former President Heydar Aliyev's policy was successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev.

He emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan's becoming a UNSC member.

Kilic touched upon Azerbaijan's hosting the Eurovision song contest this year, noting that the event was excellently organized. He stressed the importance of the International Mugham Festival, adding that it was also of great interest.

The Turkish diplomat also praised the Muslim world's position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.