Israel marks Azerbaijan’s Independence Day

Israel hosted the solemn meeting and gala concert devoted to the 20 anniversary of Azerbaijan’s independence. The event was organized by the Association of Israeli of Azerbaijan origin (AZIZ) supported by the State Committee of Azerbaijan on communication with Diaspora.

More than 600 Azerbaijanis living in Israel participated in this event. Guests noted that there were much more people if it would be held on Saturday rather than Monday.

At the hall of the congress-centre Auditorium ethnographic exhibition on traditions and culture of Azerbaijanis and montane Jews was presented by Frida Yusupova. Carpets, unique items of traditional costumes, shoes and ware reminded about generous Azerbaijani land. On the walls pictures by Azerbaijani artists hanged.

“I congratulate Azerbaijani people with revival of their independence. I should say about our special relations with Azerbaijan. Today we can call the country one of the closest friends and partners of Israel. In our relations with Azerbaijan we see an example of development of relations with other Muslim countries for Israel. Prospects of the cooperation are huge, and we hope for future successful development of it,” the head of the parliamentary group on cooperation with Azerbaijan, the deputy Robert Ilatov said.

The member of the executive council of the Association AZIZ, the director of the Azerbaijani Cultural Centre Igyana Salman reminded that Azerbaijani people had to fight for independence for long time. “During the whole our history Azerbaijani and Jew people have had close relations. Jews contributed to development of Azerbaijani economy and culture, as well as Azerbaijani statehood. Two Jew ministers were members of the first government of independent Azerbaijan.”

“As the Azerbaijani living in Moscow I understand homesickness of people in this hall,” the representative of the Azerbaijani Youth of Russia, Asfar Gusseynov.

Auditorium burst with applauses in favor of the initiator of AZIZ, the former deputy of Knesset, the well-known writer and journalist Josef Shagal. Formally Shagal is still the chairman of AZIZ, but due to his appointment to the position of extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Israel in Belarus he has to refuse from heading the Association. His words on love to Baku and Azerbaijan were accepted by some members of AZIZ as goodbye.

The event was closed by the great concert. Young Israeli singers Tomer Aliyev, Liora Safanova, Tami Davydova, Manuel Isakov, Beni Avshalumov, Ifraim Yukhayev sang Azerbaijani songs. The cast of songs was implemented by Shaul Simantov.

As a memento the participants of the meeting took the disk “Azerbaijani music by Israeli performers” away with them. Various musical works are included in it from classic to current Azerbaijani composers. Heydar Aliyev Fund sent books and magazines about Azerbaijan especially for the guests of the event.

“We hope that this evening will stay in memory of the participants and contribute to strengthening of Israeli-Azerbaijani relations. We have to be honest, former citizens of many Soviet republics, who live in Israel, often don’t have warm feeling to their former homes. Many of them faced anti-Semitism there. I’ve never heard about a Jew, who came from Azerbaijan and speaks badly about it. We have no reason to take offence, we have always had friendly relations with neighbors, classmates and colleagues. We took only love from Azerbaijan, gratitude to Azerbaijani people and nostalgia. That is why it is so important for us to have warm relations between two our motherlands,” Lev Spivak said in interview to VK.

Petr Lyuksimon, Israel. Exclusively to VK.