FM: Azerbaijan is ready to support OIC efforts to mitigate humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has addressed the extraordinary session of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Report informs, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Expressing gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the initiative to convene the meeting and the Pakistani side for hosting the event, Jeyhun Bayramov voiced the following key points:

"The escalation of the situation in Afghanistan, one of the founding members of the organization, creates serious problems at the regional and global levels and is a common source of concern. The dire humanitarian consequences of the crisis in Afghanistan are threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, and require the entire international community to take immediate action.

Founded on the noble principle of Islamic solidarity, the OIC has a responsibility to stand by our Afghan brothers and sisters in these difficult times. Thanks to the significant experience gained in recent years in the field of humanitarian assistance and the established mechanisms and institutions, the OIC is in a good position to play a leading role in resolving the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

As a responsible member of the organization, Azerbaijan is ready to support the efforts of the OIC in this matter.

The root causes of the current situation should not be overlooked when finding sustainable solutions. In this context, the establishment of a fully functional inclusive governance system in the country, especially the elimination of the risk of terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking among young people, poverty eradication and support for sustainable economic development are still vital. Otherwise, humanitarian aid alone will not be a solution to the suffering the Afghan people have been experiencing for decades.

Establishing effective governance through a peaceful and inclusive process is the only way out of the crisis. In this regard, we emphasize the validity of a number of resolutions adopted by the OIC and reaffirm our support for Afghanistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of its borders.

Security and stability in Afghanistan are closely linked to the overall security environment in the region. We must show our solidarity and support to the neighboring OIC member states in resolving the grave problems they face due to the escalation of the situation in Afghanistan."