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Assistant to President: With establishment of embassy, Azerbaijan-Israel cooperation enters a new level

Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to President of Azerbaijan-Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration

07 September 2023 16:57 (UTC +04:00)

With the establishment of the Embassy in Israel, we are entering a new level of cooperation between the two countries,” Assistant to President of Azerbaijan-Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said as he was interviewed by i24NEWS TV channel of Israel, APA reports.

“Azerbaijan and Jewish people have centuries-old traditions of the bonds of friendship and partnership, and currently Israel and Azerbaijani have that cooperation in many spheres, developing dynamically- we have been making really great progress now that Israel’s embassy is also in Azerbaijan. What we see with the establishment of the embassy in Israel is that we are entering a new level of cooperation between the two countries,” Hikmat Hajiyev said.

It was noted that Hikmat Hajiyev emphasized the high level of defense relations between the two countries: "Defense cooperation with Israel, in particular the Israeli defense equipment, plays a crucial and important role and we are thankful to Israel and the Israeli people. It is very much inscribed in the memory of Azerbaijani people."

“Holding strong ties and cooperation with neighboring countries is important,” the foreign policy advisor said when discussing Azerbaijan-Iran relations. Hajiyev discussed that it is the country’s perspective to hold an ‘inclusive’ foreign policy, meaning a diplomatic friendship with Israel does not mean losing one with Iran.

On the warming ties between Türkiye and Israel, the advisor said, “we would like our friends to be friends among themselves. Azerbaijan is glad to see a friendship and mutual understanding between Israel and Türkiye and would be happy to further develop communication between the two countries, perhaps in a trilateral format.”

Hikmat Hajiyev also discussed with i24NEWS the Jewish community within Azerbaijan, “they are our brothers and sisters,” he said, and spoke about the positive ways the Azerbaijani Jewish community contributes to the country’s identity as a whole. During World War 2, Azerbaijan accepted many Jewish refugees escaping religious persecution in Europe. "The Jewish community is such a part of our society; we made sure to share our bread during difficult times."