"AzIz" celebrates 10th anniversary

Read on the website Vestnik Kavkaza

Today "AzIz" association, which unites Azerbaijanis in Israel, celebrates its 10th anniversary. Over these years it gathered a lot of compatriots in Israel, laid the foundation for new traditions in Israeli society, established itself as a worthy link in the development and strengthening of ties between Israel and Azerbaijan, became a bridge of friendship between the two countries.

On April 12, 2007, the first constituent congress of the Israel-Azerbaijan international association "AzIz" was held. It was attended by officials of the highest governmental level both from Israel and from Azerbaijan - such as Azerbaijani Diaspora Minister Nazim Ibrahimov, Israeli Communication Minister Shaul Mofaz and Minister Avigdor Lieberman. From the very beginning AzIz raised the bar very high, and it kept this bar at a decent level since then, supporting its unshakable credibility. Extremely important state events, exchanges of journalists' delegations, agreements on twin cities, special government sessions, as well as many cultural and humanitarian events, all of this was held with its active participation. It made an invaluable contribution to the development of all ties between Israel and Azerbaijan, both at the state level and at the level of two friendly peoples - Azerbaijanis and Israelis.

All of this became possible thanks to the work of members of the board of "AzIz", its leadership and all those who supported the organization, including municipalities of different cities of Israel, members of the Knesset and the Milli Majlis, the Israeli Absorption Ministry and the Diaspora Committee of Azerbaijan, the Jewish National Fund, the STEMIGA Foundation and many others. It should be added that without the help and support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, it would be impossible to implement even half of what the association has done in all these years. But the most important thing, without which not a single structure can productively operate, are people who truly care for their organization, who give their all to promote common cause and are motivated by boundless and unselfish love for their two homelands - Azerbaijan and Israel.