President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received credentials of incoming ambassador of Palestine

On 15 June, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the credentials of Ahmed Metani, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine.

Following the official presentation of credentials, President Aliyev met with the ambassador for a conversation.

The President emphasised the deep-rooted ties of friendship and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Palestine, expressing confidence that Ambassador Metani would experience this sentiment during his tenure. He noted the importance of strong people-to-people connections in shaping bilateral relations and stressed the need to deepen cooperation through joint efforts and high-level reciprocal visits. President Aliyev also highlighted the strong political relations and mutual solidarity between the two countries.

Reaffirming Azerbaijan's principled stance, President Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan has consistently supported the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, including a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution and relevant United Nations resolutions. He referenced Azerbaijan's supportive voting record at the UN General Assembly and underlined the country's ongoing humanitarian aid to Palestine, pledging that such assistance would continue.

The President expressed appreciation for the longstanding activity of the Palestinian Embassy in Azerbaijan and reaffirmed the government’s continued support for its work.

President Aliyev further underlined Azerbaijan's dedication to fostering Islamic solidarity- a policy that has received strong recognition from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He noted that Azerbaijan is set to host the next OIC Summit, describing the selection as a reflection of the Muslim world's high regard for Azerbaijan. He also voiced hope for high-level Palestinian participation in the summit.

Ambassador Metani conveyed greetings from President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine to President Aliyev. In response, President Aliyev extended his gratitude and asked the ambassador to relay his personal regards to President Abbas.

President Aliyev fondly recalled his official meetings with President Abbas, both in Baku and on the sidelines of international events.

Ambassador Metani said he was honoured to be received by the President on June 15- National Salvation Day and reflected on the pivotal role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev's return to power in 1993, which marked a turning point in Azerbaijan's history. He expressed wishes for continued peace, success, and prosperity for the Azerbaijani people, and praised President Ilham Aliyev's leadership in transforming Azerbaijan into a prominent regional and international actor.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on prospects for enhanced cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian, and other sectors. Both sides commended their longstanding partnership and mutual support within international organisations.

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