TODAY.AZ / Politics

Envoy hails role of Azerbaijan's multiculturalism in strengthening cooperation with Israel

05 May 2017 [13:22] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Amina Nazarli

The Israeli Embassy in Baku organized an official reception to mark the 69th anniversary of the country’s National Day.

Independence Day is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. It is celebrated either on the 5th of Iyar, according to the Hebrew calendar, or on one of the preceding or following days, depending on which day of the week this date falls on.

The event was attended by representatives of state structures and departments of Azerbaijan, heads and staff of diplomatic missions accredited in the country, scientists and artists and representatives of leading media.

Speaking to the guests, Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan Dan Stav noted that during the years of independence, Israel has achieved a lot and citizens can be proud of this.

At the same time, he noted that Israel still has something to work on. Unfortunately, so far peace has not been achieved in the region, and its achievement is the main goal of the country.

“Israel is interested in cooperation with all countries of the region,” the ambassador noted.

Speaking about cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel, the ambassador noted that the two countries and the two nations have excellent relations. He recalled that Azerbaijan has a large Jewish diaspora, which has lived side by side with Azerbaijanis for centuries, sharing all the joys and hardships.

He stressed the role of Azerbaijan's multiculturalism in strengthening cooperation with Israel and expressed confidence that relations between the countries will continue to develop.

Then, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov addressed the event and congratulated Israel on the Independence Day.

He noted that Israel is a strategic partner and occupies a special place in Azerbaijan's foreign policy, and good relations based on common values ??have developed between countries.

In recent years the number of visits between the two countries has increased, which also contributes to the development of cooperation, according to Ibrahimov.

He also noted that a large role in the development of relations is played by the large Jewish community of Azerbaijan, which takes an active part in the political, economic and other spheres of life of the country.

The relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel is a successful mix of economy, diplomacy and gratitude, a handshake that holds interests too big to be neglected. The recent developments in the economic and diplomatic relationship between the two countries represent the natural evolution of a dialogue which, already at the end of the 1990s appeared as promising.

Israel recognized the independence of Azerbaijan very shortly after the official dissolution of the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Israel were established in April 1992. Since gaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has established a position of one of Israel’s closest friends in the Muslim world.

Over the last twenty years, the ties between Israel and Azerbaijan have improved drastically. The development of economic ties is particularly noticeable, as Israel rose from being Azerbaijan’s tenth largest trading partner to its third in February 2016.

Several synagogues are operating in the capital of Azerbaijan, as well as in Guba and Oguz regions. Synagogue, opened in Baku in 2003 is one of the largest in Europe. In September 2003, the first Jewish school was opened in Baku.



URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/160845.html

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