22 June 2025 18:56

The 51st session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in the city of Istanbul on 21–22 June 2025, has concluded its work.

As a result of the session, the “Istanbul Declaration” was adopted, along with 5 resolutions proposed at the initiative of our country. The session was also particularly marked by the adoption of a resolution on the Western Azerbaijan Community for the first time.

In the resolution titled “The Right of Return of Azerbaijanis forcibly and systematically expelled from the present-day territories of Armenia,” adopted for the first time within the OIC framework, support is expressed by OIC member states for the right of the Western Azerbaijan Community to return to their homeland with dignity, and the denial of the rights of this Community by Armenia is condemned.

Alongside this resolution, the “Istanbul Declaration” welcomes the progress achieved in the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and calls on the Armenian side to eliminate political and legal challenges hindering the signing of a peace agreement.

The Declaration also expresses support for Azerbaijan’s reconstruction and demining efforts aimed at ensuring the dignified return of internally displaced persons who were forced to leave their homes as a result of Armenia’s aggression.

The Declaration also confirms the existence of the right of return of Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from the present-day territories of Armenia and condemns the Armenian side’s refusal to engage in dialogue with the Western Azerbaijan Community.

The resolution titled “Solidarity with the victims of the Khojaly massacre of 1992” once again strongly condemns the war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide committed by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia in February 1992 in the city of Khojaly of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in other previously occupied territories of Azerbaijan, and calls on member states to make necessary efforts for the recognition of these crimes.

The resolution titled “Elimination of the consequences of the aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan” once again strongly condemns Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan, the consequences of which still persist, and expresses support for Azerbaijan’s reconstruction and restoration activities in the post-conflict period in the liberated territories.

The resolution titled “Economic support to the Republic of Azerbaijan” calls on OIC member states, as well as Islamic financial institutions, to support our country’s reconstruction and demining activities.

The resolution titled “Destruction and desecration of Islamic historical and cultural monuments and traces in the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a result of the aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan” strongly condemns acts of vandalism committed by Armenia against examples of Islamic cultural heritage in the territories of Azerbaijan during the period of occupation, and supports Azerbaijan’s claim for reparations against Armenia for these crimes.