The third forum of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on changes and transformations of OIC states opened in Baku today, APA reports.
The forum was organized by the Center for Strategic Studies of Azerbaijan and the Center for Turkish-Asian Strategic Studies.
Head of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Ramiz Mekhtiyev read out a message of President Ilham Aliyev at the opening. Mekhtiyev noted challenges of peace and stability. The president said that Azerbaijan improved its rating of human development by 34 points, in a list of 169 states.
Poverty in Azerbaijan dropped fourfold, the budget reached $22 billion in 2012. Economy grew 9-fold. Azerbaijan pays special attention to development of the non-petroleum and innovative spheres.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, head of the Center for Turkish-Asian Strategic Studies Suleiman Shensoy, officials, directors of “brain centers” of OIC states, scientists, representatives of international organizations, diplomats, local and foreign experts are attending the meeting.
