Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijan and Israel enjoy special relations, Azerbaijan Consul General Nasimi Aghayev said at the presentation dedicated to Azerbaijan organized on June 5 by the Los Angeles representation of the American Jewish Committee (AJC-LA), one of the most influential Jewish advocacy organizations of the world.

Aghayev said the relations between Azerbaijan and Israel is sustainable and consistent, and meets the interests of both nations.

Addressing the audience, he informed the participants about the history and current development of Azerbaijan, its leading role in the region, its growing relations with U.S. and Israel, the life of Azerbaijan vibrant Jewish community, as well as Azerbaijan's strong traditions of religious and ethnic tolerance and inclusion.

The Consul General also spoke about the illegal military occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan internationally recognized territory by Armenia accompanied by ethnic cleansing of the occupied territories via forced expulsion of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Azerbaijanis from their native lands.

He said in this regard that the world cannot remain silent and idle while Armenia still continues this flagrant illegality and injustice.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Peace talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs representing the United States, Russia and France have been largely fruitless so far.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director of AJC-LA Rabbi Mark Diamond, Chairman of its International Committee Gary Jacobs and AJC-LA liaison for Azerbaijan Ali Ibrahimzade also noted the great importance of Azerbaijan for Israel and U.S.

They highlighted the fact that Jews have lived in Azerbaijan peacefully and without any discrimination for many centuries. They also noted the strong relationship existing between Azerbaijan and AJC.

The presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session.