Peter Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
On October 14th the gala night devoted to Days of Azerbaijan in Israel which were initiated by the international association AZIS took place in the Central Palace of Culture in the Israeli city of Afula.
Initially it was planned that the leader of the party “Our Home - Israel” Avigdor Lieberman and some prominent Israeli politicians would visit the concert. However, it was found out that MPs couldn’t attened because the concert in Afula coincided with the official opening of the winter session of the parliament. However, Lieberman virtually addressed the audience and performers and stressed the growing role of Baku in international politics and special importance of further development of Israeli-Azerbaijani relations.
“Today Azerbaijan is one of the most dynamically developing countries in the world. Simultaneously it is still devoted to long traditions of tolerance and humanism. The development model of the Islamic state, which was initiated by the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, combines the preservation of its national and religious identity and openness to all new trends, readiness to cooperate with the whole world. It deserves to be studied and implemented in other Muslim states. This model significantly contributes to the growing role of Azerbaijan at the international political arena. It determines the warm relations between Azerbaijan and Israel,” Lieberman said.
The head of the Azerbaijani Cultural Center, Yegyan Salman, congratulated President Aliyev on behalf of the association AZIS and all natives from Azerbaijan who live in Israel. “From the very beginning of your governance you approved yourself as a dignified successor of your great father – the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. Due to your wisdom and forward-looking policy, Azerbaijan today is not only one of the most dynamically developing countries in the world, but also it improves its influence in the international arena turning to one of the most powerful states in the region and abroad.
In recent years the international society discovered Azerbaijan as a country with ancient history, rich culture, and outstanding national traditions. At the same time, it is the modern Islamic state which demonstrates the whole world a new model of political development, in which traditional religious and national values are combined with pure tolerance and progress. We are natives from Azerbaijan who live in Israel, and we have always been proud of our motherland, but today under your management the country is changing for the best and turns into one of the most beautiful and attractive states, we realize that this is your merit. We also appreciate your great support to the Jewish Community of Azerbaijan, your great contribution to improvement and development of relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, traditionally warm and friendly relations between two our nations,” the congratulating letter says.
Well-known Israeli artists who are connected with Azerbaijani musical culture performed at the concert – opera singer Miryam Hadzhiyeva, the Caucasian dance ensemble Dancing Purl, singers Orli Abramova, Tomer Aliyev, Liora Safanova, Manuel Isakov, Khava Dolev, Farid Aloni and Sofa Lieberman. The audience was thrilled by a performance by the Honored Artist of Azerbaijan and Dagestan Adalyat Shukyurov who came to the concert from Baku.
The Director General of AZIS Lev Spivak expressed gratitude to everybody who had helped in the organization of the concert – Heydar Aliyev Fund, Mountain Jewish charity fund STMEGI, the Israeli office of the oil company Caspian Drilling Company, Afula’s administration. The next events devoted to the Days of Azerbaijan in Israel will take place in Tel Aviv and other cities of the country.
