President of Azerbaijan awarded with emblem of year of culture - UPDATED

17:10

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is awarded with the emblem of the year of culture "Baku-capital of Islam culture - 2009", according to AzerTac.

At the opening ceremony at Heydar Aliyev's Palace, general director of the organization of science, education and culture of Islamic states Abdulaziz bin Osman al-Tuveirji awarded President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with the emblem of the year "Baku-capital of Islamic culture-2009".

-------------
16:50

"Azerbaijan is a country that has its definite cultural environment which is proven by our historical monuments and places of interest, art and literature", said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the opening of the year of culture "Baku -capital of Islamic culture - 2009", held at Heydar Aliyev's palace on Wednesday.

"But on our occupied lands Armenian vandals and brutally destroying our architectural monuments. We want to inform the public about Armenians' atrocities. Azerbaijan is developing but Armenia does not experiences this.

World community and all international organizations should not hold a two-faced policy. Azerbaijani lands are under Armenian occupation and Azerbaijan will not make any concessions in the issue of the territorial integrity, as 20% of our lands are under occupation we have over a million of refugees", said the head of the state adding that he hopes that international organizations, engagedin this issue, will hold "fair policy".

The President noted that we want peace in the region, our aim is protection of independence of the state, its strengthening and development.

--------------
16:35

"We support Azerbaijan regarding Nagorno Karabakh conflict being as Islamic World. I can say decisively that Azerbaijani land Nagorno Karabakh should be always protected. Proper measures on the issue will be carried out", Atta Manane Bakhit, Deputy Secretary General of the OIC attending the opening ceremony of cultural year "Baku-Islamic Culture Capital 2009" said, APA reports.

He stressed then importance of restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

-------------
16:10

Today international institutions recognize Azerbaijan as one of the countries, most prepared for economic crisis, said president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at an event declaring Baku the capital of Islam culture, according to Interfax-Azerbaijan.

"This preparedness was a result of our hard work. I do not doubt that Azerbaijan will overcome this heavy crisis, covering the whole world, with minimal losses", noted Aliyev.

"Though the economic crisis became wide and made most countries review their future policy, Azerbaijan has not reduced culture spendings", said the head of the state.

He said the Azerbaijani culture is an integral part of Islamic culture.

"Azerbaijan attaches a great importance to relations with these countries and declaration of Baku as a capital of Islam culture is a recognition of these contributions", noted the Azerbaijani president.

--------------
15:50

"Union of Islamic states plays an important role in the resolution of global problems", said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev while speaking at the opening of the Year of Culture "Baku-capital of Islam culture -2009" held at Heydar Aliyev's palace Wednesday, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"I am gratedul to ISESCO and Organization of Islamic Conference, that played a great role in transformation of Baku into a capital of Islamic culture. This is a very important event for Azerbaijan and I would even say it is a pride for Baku.

Azerbaijan has been independent for already 17 years. We want to contribute to the friendship of Islamic states. Practice shows that when Islamic states unite they may play a significant role in the solution of global problems", noted he.

"Islam is a tolerant religion and we must advocate it as it is", noted the Azerbaijani President.

According to Ilham Aliyev, the economic, political and cultural cooperation of Islamic states is needed.

"The recent meetings of the Foreign Ministers and Ministers of Culture and Tourism of Islamic states show that Azerbaijan is interested in the development of relations with Islamic states. We, in turn, will continue our activity", noted the Azerbaijani President.

----------------
14:30

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony.

President Ilham Aliyev addressed the event.

The ceremony brought together Islamic and European culture and deputy culture ministers, as well as Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, ISESCO, Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri.

Baku was proclaimed the Islamic culture capital for 2009 at the fifth conference of the Organization of the Islamic Conference held in Tripoli, Libya, in 2007.

Baku will also host the sixth conference of OIC cultural ministers.

/AzerTac/