Ali Hasanov: Azerbaijan is a genuine secular model of the Islamic world
![Ali Hasanov: Azerbaijan is a genuine secular model of the Islamic world](https://www.azernews.az/media/pictures/142339762281313271_750x500.jpg)
Ali Hasanov, Head of the Public and Political Affairs
Department of the Administration of the President of the Republic
of Azerbaijan, responded to questions from Forum Daily
American-Jewish newspaper. The top-ranking Baku official
highlighted Azerbaijan`s experience and achievements in
inter-civilization dialogue, and Azerbaijani-Israeli cooperation.
AzerTAc presents the interview.
Question:Azerbaijan is located in a geopolitically complex
region: instability, armed conflicts, strengthening radicalism,
aggressive foreign policy of some neighbors, terrorism threat, etc.
What are the main challenges for Azerbaijan today, in your
opinion?
Answer: The South Caucasus region is of great
geopolitical importance and has great potential for development.
Energy, transport and other transnational projects, some of which
were initiated by Azerbaijan, have created fertile ground for the
prosperity of the whole region. However unresolved territorial
conflicts such as the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Georgian-Abkhazian and South Ossetia conflicts,
Russian-Ukrainian conflict, set the ground for destabilization of
the situation. These conflicts pose immediate threat to the
regional security. For example, as a result of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 20 percent of
Azerbaijani lands have been occupied by neighboring Armenia, more
than one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally
displaced persons as a result of the Armenian aggression. I firmly
believe that the Jewish people, who experienced a terrible genocide
against Jews in Europe, share our pain, the sufferings of innocent
people and grief over the genocide act committed by Armenians in
the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly in 1992. In this regard, I would
like to highlight a recent speech by President of Israel Reuven
Rivlin on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day at the UN
General Assembly. In his speech, Mr President mentioned the Khojaly
Genocide along with other tragic events of the 20th century. We are
very grateful to him for this.
Uncontrolled territories, occupied by separatists and armed
bandits, including Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent regions, the
so-called "gray zones" are an ideal place for wide spread of
international terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal arms
trafficking, and other elements. Of course, taking into account the
fact that neighboring countries have faced a similar situation too,
it is quite difficult to speak about strong regional security and
regional stability. Despite the difficult geopolitical situation we
have managed to turn Azerbaijan into a strong, prosperous and
stably developing country over the years of independence. Against
the background of confrontations, the strengthening of radicalism
and religious intolerance in the world, the international community
can see – in the example of a modern and strong Azerbaijan – a
genuine model for many countries.
Q.: In general, do you think it is possible to build a
developed society which would combine Islam and a state`s secular
fundamentals?
A.: Recently in his speech at the World Economic
Forum in Davos, the head of our state said that all of us want to
see stable, peaceful development in our countries. Radicalism is
the threat to all of us, and geopolitical position of our countries
is a natural barrier preventing the penetration by radicals of the
European continent. Azerbaijan is an example of a modern and
secular Muslim country. This means that in a Muslim country too it
is possible to build a modern, secular society, a society, which
respects the traditional religions and is based on universal
values.
Azerbaijan will host the inaugural European Games in June, 2015. In
2017, our country will host the Islamic Solidarity Games. This is a
clear example of a modern Muslim country, which combines global and
inter-civilization traditions, values.
Q.: What are the main principles of Azerbaijan's foreign
policy?
A.: Equal cooperation, respect for international
law and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries
are important principles of the foreign policy of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan cooperates with all countries of the region and the
world, including Israel, on the basis of these principles. After
restoring its independence Azerbaijan established close political
ties with the countries of both the East and West and neighboring
states. Our cooperation in transnational oil and gas and transport
areas has transformed the energy map of the region and Europe. We
have provided comprehensive assistance to the international
coalition in the fight against international terrorism. Azerbaijan
has participated in peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan
and Iraq. There are too many examples of mutually beneficial
cooperation between Azerbaijan and other countries.
Q.:Does radical Islam pose a real threat to
Azerbaijan?
A.: Of course, time after time, certain forces
have tried to aggravate the internal situation in Azerbaijan too,
and undermine political stability in the country. We also observed
some attempts to destabilize society using a religious factor. But
the Azerbaijani people`s commitment to the traditions of tolerance
and the idea of multiculturalism, and the government`s deliberate
policy on this front are a real barrier to the spread of religious
radicalism in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani people and the leadership
of the country will never allow the substitution of a secular state
model that we chose with a religious one, and this policy will be
continued.
Q.: How would you describe the current relations between
Azerbaijan and Israel, and what is your vision of further
development of these ties?
A.: The past years have seen Azerbaijan become a
rapidly developing country and strengthen its status of the
regional leader as well as a political, economic and humanitarian
hub of the South Caucasus. Guided by the norms of international
law, Azerbaijan took an active and principled position on decisions
shaping the system of international relations in the world when the
country was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Azerbaijan is pursuing a balanced foreign policy aimed at
preserving and developing relations with all countries of the
world. I am pleased to note that relations between Azerbaijan and
Israel, both in bilateral, regional and international formats, are
the relations of strategic partnership. I would like to emphasize
mutual understanding and friendly ties between the leaders of our
countries in the political sphere.
We are actively cooperating in the economic area, with special
emphasis put on energy, advanced technology supplies, military,
telecommunications, agricultural and other fields. Social, cultural
and human relations between our peoples, non-governmental
organizations, the media, as well as diaspora organizations also
play an important role.
As for the prospects of bilateral and multilateral relations, they
can be hailed only as positive. There is a great potential for the
development of cooperation in regional and international
affairs.
Unfortunately, time after time, some international forces attempt
to spoil relations between our countries. But we are confident that
such attempts will produce no result. We also hope that biased
anti-Azerbaijani articles, which have recently been published by
several Israeli newspapers, are taken for serious neither by
Israeli official circles nor society.
Q.: Can Azerbaijan become a bridge between the State of
Israel and the Muslim world?
A.: Pursuing the policy of a secular, modernized,
multicultural society demonstrates President Ilham Aliyev`s
commitment to turn the country into one of the world's humanitarian
centers. We have ensured the rights of all national minorities,
religious confessions, including a 20,000-strong Jewish community
and its cultural and religious life. I would like to underline that
there is the Azerbaijani diaspora in Israel numbering more than
70,000 people.
It should be noted that Azerbaijan, which is part of the Islamic
world, has friendly relations with both all Islamic countries and
Israel. I believe that this practice can also serve as a model in
the bilateral relations between civilizations.
Azerbaijan believes that in today's world there is no place for
ethnic and religious confrontations, territorial claims, escalation
of tension by forcing ethnic and religious intolerance, incitement
to violence and hatred. All the issues should be solved in
compliance with international law, constructive dialogue and mutual
understanding. Our country, if necessary, can contribute to the
strengthening of peace and stability in the Middle East, between
Israel and the Islamic world.
Q.:What about the situation of the Jewish community in
Azerbaijan today, and how does this community impact on
Azerbaijani-Israeli relations?
A.: Certainly both Jews of Azerbaijani origin, who
now live in Israel, and the Jewish community in Azerbaijan have
played and will further play a big role in the establishment and
strengthening of ties between Azerbaijan and Israel.
Irrespective of national, ethnic and religious background, all
citizens of Azerbaijan are bound together by common history, common
destiny and common interests. Jews, like representatives of other
nations and ethnic minorities living in Azerbaijan, have always
been full members of society, and never felt themselves estranged.
Krasnaya Sloboda (Red Town) village in Guba district, Azerbaijan,
is the only place in the world densely populated by Jews except for
the state of Israel. I can say with confidence that unlike Jews in
Armenia, Jews in Azerbaijan have never faced any manifestations of
anti-Semitism. Even amid bursts of anti-Semitist and growing
anti-Israeli moods in the world, there was a friendly attitude
towards Jews in Azerbaijan.
The Jewish community has taken an active civil position, and is
playing a significant role in public, political, economic and
cultural life of Azerbaijan. It is represented in the country`s
parliament – Yevda Abramov is deputy chairman of the human rights
commission at the Milli Majlis.
Nearly 20 Jewish public and cultural and charity organizations were
registered and are operating in Azerbaijan. At the republican
level, I would like to emphasize the activity of the organizations
such as “House of Jews”, “Azerbaijan-Israel” society, Association
of Jewish Women of Azerbaijan, Jewish Culture Center, as well as a
department of Sohnut, an international Jewish organization, etc.
Supported by the Jewish communities and the Embassy of Israel in
Baku, these organizations hold many cultural events, publish Jewish
literature, organize various events.
There are currently seven synagogues in the capital of Azerbaijan
and in the cities of Guba and Oguz. In 2003-2012, the government of
Azerbaijan funded the building of two new synagogues, which are
among the largest ones in Europe and are remarkable for their
architectural features. The Jewish religious community in
Azerbaijan receives financial assistance from the state budget on a
yearly basis.
Initiated by the Association of Jewish Women of Azerbaijan, the
first Jewish kindergarten, supplied with cutting-edge equipment,
opened in the country. There are five Jewish schools in Baku and
Guba, which enroll nearly 1,500 pupils. Hebrew, Jewish culture and
history classes opened on the base of secondary school No 46 in
Baku. A private Jewish school has operated in Baku since 2003.
Hebrew is taught at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the Baku
State University. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, first lady,
president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and
President of the CIS Federation of Jewish Communities and Ohr-Avner
International Foundation Lev Levayev attended the opening of Chabad
Ohr Avner education center for Jewish children in Baku under the
Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s “Azerbaijan – Land of Tolerance” project
on October 4, 2010.
Azerbaijan-Israel Friendship Society “Aziz” publishes
“Azerbaijan-Israel” newspaper, and local Jewish society “Unity” in
Krasnaya Sloboda publishes “Gudyal” magazine.
Jews living in Azerbaijan widely celebrate their national and
religious holidays, and the head of state sends an official message
to the Jewish community every year.
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