Statement by H.E. Taha Ayhan, the ICYF President

H.E. Taha Ayhan, the President of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), congratulates the Government and the people of Azerbaijan on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the New Azerbaijan Party, the only ruling party in the Republic of Azerbaijan since 1993. The New Azerbaijan Party, initiated by the Late Haydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the  Azerbaijani people, and currently led by H.E. President Ilham Aliyev, has played a very significant role in the development and prosperity of Azerbaijan and signed significant milestones for the last 30 years. The liberation of the almost thirty years-occupied territories, which are internationally recognized Azerbaijani lands, is one of the most prominent and tangible achievements the Party realized under H.E. President Aliyev’s rational and wise leadership.

In this vein, the ICYF President commends and strongly supports the efforts by the Azerbaijani Government and the Governments of other Member States aimed at consolidating the peace in the South Caucasus and the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and believes that will bring tremendous opportunities leading to advantageous circumstances for the economic growth and cultural integration of the entire region. On the other hand, the ICYF President is concerned about “endeavours” and intentions by third parties, such as France, obviously targeting undermining the Azerbaijani-Armenian normalization process and seriously jeopardizing Azerbaijan’s peace-building, restorations and reconstruction works following the 44 days War in 2020.

In this context, Mr. Ayhan, the ICYF President, condemns the resolution adopted by the French Senate on November 15, 2022, called “The application of sanctions against Azerbaijan…” which is yet another manifestation of the Islamaphobic approach by France towards Muslim-sided conflicts during its last two hundred years history. The ICYF President considers the provisions of the above-said resolution a one-sided political position and entirely far from the truth, reiterating the French Senate’s biased and unjust attitude regarding historical realities.

The ICYF President kindly reminds and recommends the Esteemed Parliament and Government of France to re-evaluate and re-consider its history, especially within the last couple of centuries which are notorious for massive massacres, brutalities of imperialist colonialism, and Islamaphobic policies perpetrated against Muslims in different geographies, rather than pretending as a peace-maker in a region pretty away from its boundaries.