BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 26. Baku has become a
parliamentary diplomacy hub of the Islamic world, political analyst
Azer Garayev told Trend.
"The 20th Session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States held in Baku is another
confirmation of Azerbaijan's growing political weight and
diplomatic influence in the Islamic world and Baku's transformation
into the center of parliamentary diplomacy of the Islamic world,"
he explained.
According to the analyst, this event, which is important not
only as a platform for interparliamentary cooperation but also in
terms of strengthening solidarity among Muslim countries, conveyed
important messages about the place Azerbaijan holds in the system
of international relations.
"The holding of the session in Baku and the transfer of the
chairmanship of the organization to Azerbaijan are not a
coincidence. In recent years, our country's active diplomatic
initiatives in the Islamic world, hosting various international
events, and developing multilateral relations with member states
are among the main reasons for this trust. The address of President
Ilham Aliyev to the participants at the event attracted attention
as an important political document reflecting Azerbaijan's vision
of the Islamic world and future priorities. The head of state noted
in his address: "We can proudly state that throughout these years,
our country has contributed to strengthening Islamic solidarity,
played an active and responsible role in the activities of the OIC,
remained faithful to its goals and principles, and actively
participated in increasing its authority on the international
stage." This opinion shows that Azerbaijan acts not only as a
member state in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, but also
as an initiator and guiding actor. The Islamic Solidarity Games
held in Baku in recent years, international conferences dedicated
to the fight against Islamophobia, meetings of the Islamic
Development Bank Group, and other events are the practical results
of this policy," Garayev said.
According to him, one of the main issues that attracted
attention at the session was the high assessment of the support
provided by Islamic countries on the issue of Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity.
"In his address, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the OIC
strongly condemned Armenia's occupation policy against Azerbaijan
and defended Azerbaijan's rightful position. "During Armenia’s
nearly 30-year aggression against Azerbaijan and in the post-war
period, the OIC demonstrated a firm position by adopting
resolutions and statements that strongly condemned the occupation,
supported Azerbaijan’s just cause, sovereignty, and territorial
integrity, and welcomed the reconstruction and development works in
our liberated territories," he stated. This statement once again
shows that Azerbaijan's relations with the Islamic world are not
built only on religious and cultural ties. Political solidarity,
mutual support, and coordination within international organizations
also play an important role here," the analyst noted.
Garayev pointed out that one of the topics given special
attention in the head of state's address was the fight against
Islamophobia.
"In recent years, against the backdrop of the increase in calls
for hatred against Muslims, religious discrimination, and offensive
steps against sacred values in various regions of the world, it
is noteworthy that Azerbaijan has put this issue on the
international agenda. "Islamophobia is not merely intolerance
towards Muslims; it is a dangerous trend that threatens mutual
understanding and peaceful coexistence," the head of state said.
This approach shows that Azerbaijan presents itself not only as a
state defending the interests of Muslim countries, but also as a
promoter of intercultural dialogue and multicultural values,"
Garayev noted.
The analyst underscored that the bilateral meetings held within
the framework of the session also increased the political
significance of the event.
"The meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with the Speaker of the
Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf,
attracted special attention against the backdrop of recent events
in the region. During the meeting, the support provided by
Azerbaijan in difficult times for Iran was highly appreciated. The
Iranian side openly stated that Azerbaijan stood by Iran as a
friendly country during the last war. This message can be assessed
as an important indicator of the recent political rapprochement
between the two countries. At the same time, the discussion of
strategic projects such as the Aghband-Kelaleh bridge and the Araz
Corridor shows that relations between Baku and Tehran are not
limited to political dialogue alone, but are also entering a new
stage in the direction of economic and transport cooperation. The
meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with the Speaker of the Grand
National Assembly of Türkiye, Numan Kurtulmuş, once again
demonstrated the unchanging strategic nature of Azerbaijani-Turkish
relations. The importance of the Shusha Declaration was
particularly emphasized at the meeting, and it was noted that the
fraternal relations between the two countries are a stabilizing
factor for the region," Garayev said.
According to him, the session held in Baku demonstrated three
important directions of Azerbaijan's foreign policy on the same
platform.
"The first direction is to strengthen solidarity and cooperation
in the Islamic world, the second direction is to develop mutually
beneficial relations with the countries of the region, and the
third direction is to further deepen the Azerbaijan-Türkiye
strategic alliance. It's no coincidence that President Ilham Aliyev
paid special attention to future goals in his address. The head of
state emphasized that in 2027, the 16th Session of the Islamic
Summit Conference will be held in Azerbaijan, and the country will
assume the OIC chairmanship. "During our chairmanship, we will
spare no effort to promote the common interests of member states,
deepen cooperation within the organization, strengthen Islamic
solidarity, and mobilize joint efforts to turn it into a greater
force," President Ilham Aliyev stated. This statement clearly
demonstrates Azerbaijan's intention to play a more active role in
the political and diplomatic agenda of the Islamic world in the
coming years," the analyst said.
Garayev noted that the 20th Session of the OIC Parliamentary
Union held in Baku showed that Azerbaijan is no longer just a
participant in regional processes, but is also becoming a center of
dialogue that brings together various states and political
platforms.
"Against the backdrop of the challenges, geopolitical tensions,
and economic problems facing the Islamic world, the main message
given by Baku is a vision of the future built on solidarity,
cooperation, and mutual support. The growing role of Azerbaijan
within the OIC can be assessed as a practical result of this,"
added the analyst.
