President: "Islamic solidarity is more important now"

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the fifth session today. He highly appreciated the second OIC event hosted in Azerbaijan this year. The head of state stressed that solidarity of Islamic conference is more important now, APA reports.

"We are actively participating in the Organization of the Islamic Conference and offered organizing several events. The OIC will have more active influence on the developments ongoing in the world. We’ll have stronger position as this organization becomes powerful. Islamic world is a great force, we should benefit from it," President Aliyev underlined.

Mr.Aliyev also touched on the economic growth in the country saying Azerbaijan is leading for the tempo of this growth. He said there are wide opportunities for development of tourism in Azerbaijan calling on private sector representatives and Islamic countries to invest in this sphere, "We are showing big care to tourism sector. Three new international airports are being constructed in different parts of the country. Furthermore, new modern hotels will be built."

The OIC Secretary General Ekmelledin Ihsanoglu addressing the session said Azerbaijan is making efforts to strengthen the OIC. He stressed the importance of strengthening economic, trade and tourism relations among the OIC member states. Noting that tourism sector is developing in the world, the Secretary General also said the world countries gained $35 billion from tourism last year.

"The world states exchanged 18 million tourists last year. African countries received tourists most of all. Turkey and Malaysia are leading in this field among the OIC member states." He said the member states should increase exchanging tourists and cooperate strongly implementing joint projects.

The World Tourism Organization Secretary General Francesco Frangialli addressing the session said there were 800 million tourists last year, 109 million of which were shared by Muslim countries. He said terrorist acts, bird flu pandemic and increasing price of oil could not prevent the development of tourism.

5.5 percent growth was recorded in the development of tourism last year.

Touching on Islam, Mr.Frangialli said introducing this religion as terrorism is unacceptable, Islam is religion of love and peace. He also said some Muslim countries are new shining stars in the tourism map of the world.