Baku: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has hailed the country's membership in the D-8 organization as a significant achievement, highlighting its uniqueness as the first new member in nearly 30 years. In an interview with local television channels on January 5, Aliyev expressed the importance of Azerbaijan's inclusion in the group, which unites some of the largest countries in the Muslim world.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized the significance of being the only new member admitted to the D-8, an organization whose member countries collectively boast a population exceeding one billion and a combined economy surpassing four trillion. Despite Azerbaijan's relatively smaller population and economy, Aliyev noted that the country's inclusion reflects respect and is a testament to its independent policy. He also mentioned that Azerbaijan has already begun active participation within the organization.