[ April 20, 2024 ]
Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the United States, Elin Suleymanov, said in a recent interview he hopes the United States will promote discussions between the Israelis and Palestinians, rather than simply move the U.S. embassy to Israel to Jerusalem and leave out the “wishes and desires” of the Palestinian people.
He also said Azerbaijan is in a special position to help foster relations between Jews and Muslims.
“Muslims and Jews have a glorious history of coexistence,” he said, JNS.org reported.
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Why?
Because “Muslims protected Jews” in Medieval times, and now the Jewish people ought to remember and build on that remembrance, he said.
JNS.org has more:
Ambassador Elin Suleymanov has been Azerbaijan’s top envoy to the United States since 2011, having previously served as consul general of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles from 2005.
Stationed in the United States for years now, he has made many connections to the Jewish community, visiting Israel in 2015 as part of a program sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, and more recently taking part in a panel discussion on the Caucasus region at the 2018 American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference in Washington, D.C.
As a representative of one of Israel’s oldest and strongest partners in the Muslim world, the ambassador spoke with JNS about his country’s rare relationship with the world’s only Jewish state, as well as some of the challenges in his region and elsewhere.
Q: How do you view the relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan today?
A: “I would say the relationship is strong and expanding. I would like to see it expand further. It would be good for Azerbaijan, for Israel and for the entire region.
Areas like defense, energy and security have always been strong. But we have seen expansion in areas like agriculture and high-tech. Azerbaijan has parts that are very dry and Israeli technology like drip irrigation helps. Advanced technology and agriculture is very important to us, and we are very grateful for our Israeli partners on this.The other [main area] is, of course, high technology. We know that Israel is a startup nation. We are trying to develop our own startup culture. I think the experience in Israel is more relevant than any other because of the size, location and culture of the country.”
Q: Israel has had warming relations with its Arab Muslim neighbors in recent years. Is its relationship with Azerbaijan a model for ties with the Muslim world?
A: “In some sense, Azerbaijan’s relationship is different than Israel’s relationships with the rest of the Muslim world. Azerbaijan has a 1,500-year-old Jewish community. Jewish life is an integral part of Azerbaijan society. Azerbaijan is well known to be a tolerant place for religions.
Azerbaijan is a place where you can come and speak no matter your faith—where the perception of Islamic solidarity involves others. It’s not exclusive; it is inclusive.
The connections that are now being built between Israel and the rest of the Muslim world were wishful thinking not too long ago. Now we see much greater connection. Azerbaijan has pioneered that. We were on the forefront. In some ways, Azerbaijan opened the doors to this. It’s still not as widespread and well-connected as it should be, but Azerbaijan can do more, and we are happy to be an example of Israel cooperation with Muslim states.”
Q: How does Azerbaijan view calls by Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump to “fix or nix” the Iran nuclear deal?
A: “Azerbaijan is the only country that borders both Russia and Iran. We have always tried to build good relations with our neighbors, including [them]. We were very pleased to see there was effort to get a nuclear deal. I think it was a good effort. By now, the deal exists; it is a done deal. It was signed and endorsed by the major participants in the international community.
However, when the deal was being developed, I think there could have been more input from U.S. allies and nations in the region. That’s why I think if the Obama administration had included more partners and allies in the discussions, there may be less criticism today.
Maybe we just need to find a way how to build a consensus moving forward on this. Nuclear proliferation is a very dangerous thing, and we are very happy there is an effort to curb [it]. If that deal can prevent nuclear proliferation and weapons of mass destruction, then that is a good thing.”
Q: Israel has an embassy in Baku. What about an Azerbaijani embassy in Jerusalem?
A: “For a long time now, we have been discussing this with our Israeli partners. [It’s] not exactly my purview, but I am hopeful to see an embassy in Israel, of course.
On Jerusalem, there is a view in the international community, and [Azerbaijan], like the majority of the international community, support the two-state solution. The two-state solution does imply that the status for both capitals—the capitals for the state of Israel and the Palestinian [state]—will be determined by them as part of the negotiations. However, that creates a certain degree of uncertainty in the international relations.
Of course, everybody knows that the Jewish people have a very strong connection to Israel and Jerusalem. This city has always been a symbol of the Jewish people, and I think that needs to be respected. I think we need to look at using this as an opportunity to respect the sensitivities on all sides.
At the same time, this is an issue of political negotiations with the Palestinian side, which, of course, also must include their wishes and desires as part of the conversation.
I am not 100 percent sure on how to move forward with this issue. But I hope that the U.S. decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem will also coincide with efforts to promote discussions between the Israelis and Palestinians. Two sides of the same coin; you can’t do one without the other.”
Q: How do you view the Israeli-Azerbaijani relationship going forward?
A: “Azerbaijan is a unique partner for Israel specifically because of the nature of our relationship. It is not aimed against anybody; it is because the Jewish people and Azerbaijan have centuries of coexistence, and strong friendship and partnership. That translates now into the connection between the two people and nations.
We need to use this example of normalcy. I think we should celebrate the achievements of Israel, but also the achievements of Azerbaijan as a tolerant and open society with progressive views as an example of what a Muslim society can be.
Working with Israel, it is important to remember that being Muslim does not mean be anti-Israeli. Muslims and Jews have a glorious history of coexistence; Muslims protected Jews for centuries during the medieval era. We shouldn’t forget that—and need to build on that tradition.”
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19 Comments
6 years ago
While we in this part of the world, never hurts to know some very interesting history, and about spying
Queen Victoria, house of Hanover sold out Russia to the Ottoman Sultan, Abdülazizin exchange for Cyprus, also stopping Russia taking back Turkey, with the help of Sardinia, France and Ottoman Empire with Crimea War.
UK who has the ability to duplicate the Russian nerve Agent with help of CIA, (MKUltra).
Russia was, protector of Armenia, Serbia. In stopping Russia it left Armenia, Serbia open to attacks by the Sultan
We must also remember, When Victoria was mostly German, her grandson German Wilhelm II Kaiser was also in bed with the Muslims, besides the bankers and oil barons, such as Lord Rothschild’s
She named the HMS Sultan to honour Ottoman Sultan, Abdülaziz, also giving him the investiture of Sultan Abdülaziz Investure with the Order of the Garter
Queen Victoria also donated a measly amount to the Irish Famine, almost a million Irish died, no one was allowed to out donate the Queen. Allot of Irish escape to USA
Queen Victoria and a Sultan’s Salvage
https://dawlishchronicles.com/2018/01/19/a-sultan-a-queen-and-a-salvage/
We must not forget the Greek, Armenian Genocides, and the Great Fire of Smyrna, where Great Battleships from UK, USA, France and other countries sat by as Orthodox Christians burned at the hands of the Muslim’s. Battleships only to protect oil, trade and country citizens
6 years ago
That’s ridiculous and SELF SERVING, AZERBAIBAN!
Muslims have ALWAYS hated Jews and Christians.
They are nonbelievers and the evil people of the book.
We dodged a BULLET here! Humor time!
Watch: Hillary Nearly Falls Down Stairs Twice In India
Derek Hunter
Contributor
10:40 PM 03/12/2018
Watch:
https://youtu.be/Rbp3yne4h_4
COMMENTS are welcome!
6 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
there must have been a bullshit session and there was so much it was stuck on her sandals
6 years ago
Totally RIDICULOUS!
The only reason Muslims will TEMPORARILY unite with Israel is because of IRAN. Other Muslims countries are very threatened by Iran. Each wants to protect their country from the invasion of another Muslim sect taking over. It’s a temporary alliance.
We should worry though, if ISLAM takes over the UK or France. BOTH countries have nuclear weapons.
6 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
France tested bout 5 nukes in their waters,in the 80’s. not their nukes but for other nations that were unable to test. She prob. sold any nuke in her possession for cash. Nukes have shelf-life & need renewing.
6 years ago
Agree. The azerbaijani is only trying to get US to go back to licking Palestinians ass and give more money to the jihadis.
Trump was initially fooled by Taqiya from Abbas – the jihadi fraud. but once he realised he was conned, boy was Trump furious as hell http://bit.ly/2rOmfyJ
That is when Trump realised how stupid it was to fund and support this jihadi scum.
6 years ago
If it involves a muslim, it involves lying. The usual hog wash of some muslim nation doing something for humanity if and when its demands are met, is worn out. Demonstrate through actions today, not allusions of some questionable historical fiction of what muslim intentions are.
6 years ago
Reply to
Mahou Shoujo
Israel had secret air bases in Azerbaijan until the Sultan 0bama spilled the beans to the Persians! Also they buy many armaments from Israel.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2012/03/28/israels-secret-staging-ground/
6 years ago
Reply to
IzlamDownpressesHumanity
Quite simple Azerbaijan was part of the USSR and as I have written on this site in the past I was fighting Commies in 1973 as well as Egyptians. things are different now.
6 years ago
Reply to
Millionmileman
Tell THAT to:
1. the Yezidis and Christians of Iraq and Syria
2. the Christians of Nigeria
3. the Coptic Christians of Egyptistan
4. the Hindus of Bangladesh
5. the Hindus and Christians of Pakistan (spit)
6. the Jews of Indonesia
6 years ago
“remember , being Muslim does not mean being anti-Israeli” …..uh wait a minute, does this muslim NOT read the quran?
6 years ago
The Granada pogrom (oops I meant massacre) of 1066, The Yerushalem pogrom in the 1920’s, the Farhud pogrom of the 1940’s, the ethnic cleansing of Jews from the Mid-East and N. Africa all sound like glorious examples of islamic coexistence w/Jews.
6 years ago
They should build in the fact that pisslaists protected jews? The first pisslamist, mohammed SLAUGHTERED jews, and S- like that continues to this day all over the world wherever pisslam spreads.
F- pisslam.
6 years ago
Muslims protecting Jews?! That was called jizya! And the relation during the middle ages was called the crusades! How much BS do these guys put out?!!!
