PM: Azerbaijan committed to strengthening cooperation within D-8’s framework

At the 11th D-8 Summit in Cairo, Prime Minister Ali Asadov highlighted the historic significance of Azerbaijan’s participation, emphasizing the country’s new role as a member of the organization. 

Speaking at the summit, Asadov expressed gratitude to the member states of the Developing Eight (D-8) for electing Azerbaijan as the newest member of the organization, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"This is a historic decision, and Azerbaijan will actively contribute to the organization’s principles and the expansion of cooperation within its framework," he said.

The D-8, which represents 60% of the global Muslim population, plays an important role in promoting Islamic solidarity. Asadov stressed the importance of strengthening this solidarity in the face of growing Islamophobia, extremism, and radicalism. He noted Azerbaijan’s historical role as a bridge between East and West, emphasizing its contributions to multiculturalism, tolerance, and the promotion of Islamic values worldwide.

In his speech, Prime Minister Asadov addressed the issue of Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands. He stated that Azerbaijan has put an end to the 30-year Armenian occupation and fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Asadov emphasized that Armenia had carried out ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis in the formerly occupied areas, leading to more than one million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). He described the acts of destruction, including urbicides, culturocides, and ecocides, which were committed on Azerbaijani soil. He pointed out that the cultural and religious heritage of the Azerbaijani people had been obliterated, with 65 out of 67 mosques in the occupied territories destroyed.

Asadov also highlighted the large-scale reconstruction efforts currently underway, with villages and towns being rebuilt from the ground up. Thousands of former IDPs have already returned to their ancestral lands. He concluded by noting that the new realities in the region offer unique opportunities for sustainable peace, stability, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Azerbaijan, he affirmed, remains committed to the peace agenda and will continue to take decisive steps in that direction.

On December 19, 2024, Azerbaijan was officially elected as a member of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) during the Cairo Summit. This marks the first expansion of the organization since its founding in 1997. Azerbaijan’s membership is seen as a significant achievement for President Ilham Aliyev’s foreign policy. The country first attended the D-8 Summit in 2017 in Istanbul as a special guest, with President Aliyev representing Azerbaijan. Seven years later, Azerbaijan was represented in Cairo by Prime Minister Asadov.

The D-8, established by Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye, holds substantial economic influence and represents a key part of the Muslim world. Azerbaijan’s inclusion brings new opportunities for deepened cooperation in areas such as trade, transportation, and communication, enhancing the organization’s scope.

According to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, the country’s role in the D-8 will focus on promoting justice, upholding international law, and fostering stability and prosperity in the region. Azerbaijan’s membership is also expected to strengthen Islamic solidarity, promote Islamic values globally, and combat Islamophobia.

Azerbaijan’s strategic position and its historical and cultural significance in the Islamic world are expected to enrich the D-8’s efforts to drive economic cooperation among its members. Established in 1997, the D-8 aims to enhance cooperation between its member states, with its Secretariat based in Istanbul.

By Tamilla Hasanova